Big Donation to Parents as Teachers Program

Youngsters who are served by Parents as Teachers will be getting a new outdoor playground thanks to the United Way. At the August 4th board of education meeting, United Way Board Chairman Scott Griffith presented a $10,000 check to Topeka Board of Education President Patrick Woods. The money will be used to build the playground for infants and toddlers and to provide books for them at the Parents as Teachers Pine Ridge location in east Topeka.

The Parents as Teachers program offers monthly personalized home visits, weekly playgroups and developmental screenings for low income families. The Pine Ridge site also has a computer lab for adults to help them access information, enhance jobs skills and look for employment. The Pine Ridge site serves more than 50 families who live in the area.

The Topeka Public Schools’ Parents as Teachers Pine Ridge site is the result of a partnership between the school district, the Topeka Community Foundation, the Topeka Public Schools Foundation, El-Shaddai Ministries, United Way of Greater Topeka, the Community Resources Council and the Topeka Housing Authority.