Nicole Griseta took the stage confidently, accepting the prestigious Parent Educator of the Year Award at the sold-out 2024 Parents as Teachers International Conference in San Diego. This accolade highlights her remarkable commitment to empowering vulnerable families and advocating for their children’s early development.
As a parent educator at the Rockford Public School Prevention Initiative’s Parents as Teachers home visiting program, Griseta was recognized before an audience of 2,000 professionals in early childhood development. The annual conference is a critical platform for addressing parent engagement, early childhood education, and the cutting-edge research that informs effective caregiving practices.
The four-day event showcased essential discussions on key trends in home visiting, community engagement, collaborations, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as health and wellness, parenting, and child education — framed under the compelling theme “Born to Learn – Power of the Past – Building for the Future.”
Griseta, who was honored with this award, received complimentary registration, round-trip travel, and lodging for the conference. She expressed her gratitude with conviction, emphasizing that facilitating parents’ growth in confidence and skills is her ultimate joy and purpose.
“Receiving this recognition honors the work I am deeply passionate about,” Griseta stated. “Being a parent educator is not merely a job; it is an opportunity to serve others and substantially impact our communities. I accept this award on behalf of the dedicated team I work with daily to strengthen families through Parents as Teachers.”
Griseta is a devoted wife and mother of two. Her fervent passion for serving families and children ignited during her time in Africa, propelling her into a fulfilling career in social services. Starting as a child welfare specialist in specialized foster care, she transitioned to becoming a parent educator, dedicating the past nine years to the Rockford Public School Prevention Initiative.
Her unwavering passion lies in partnering with families and empowering them to thrive, with a specific focus on supporting prenatal mothers.
Parents as Teachers is an essential international program connecting parents and caregivers with trained Parent Educators. These dedicated professionals conduct home visits during a child’s formative years, delivering crucial support in early childhood education and parenting skills.
Constance Gully, president and CEO of Parents as Teachers, praised Griseta’s relentless commitment to transforming the lives of children and families in Rockford, IL.
“Nicole rightfully deserves this award due to her unwavering drive and the countless hours she has devoted to helping children realize their full potential,” Gully asserted.
About Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers builds strong communities, thriving families, and children who are healthy, safe, and learning by connecting parents and caregivers with trained professionals who conduct regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years, from pregnancy through kindergarten. This internationally recognized evidence-based home visiting model is supported by 40 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families. Parents as Teachers serves nearly 180,000 families across all 50 U.S. states, 115 Tribal organizations, six other countries, and one U.S. territory. Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
From left, Sean Doherty, a Parents as Teachers board member, is joined on stage by Mark Ginsberg, chair of the board of directors, Constance Gully, president and CEO, Adriann-Adams Gulley, vice president and chief financial officer, Nicole Griseta, recipient of the 2024 Parent Educator of the Year Award, and Wendy Schwalbe, Wisconsin Parents as Teachers State Leader at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Photo by Mary Sue Gee.