Upcoming PU Events

An E-Ticket is required to attend all Parent University Speaker Series events - 1 adult per each E-ticket. To receive your E-Ticket for the event, please click on the following link to RSVP for an individual session:

Event registration is closed at this time. Please RSVP for the waitlist and we will contact you if space becomes available.

• Choosing the Right School For Your Family
  
  TWO SESSIONS!
  Saturday, September 11, 10:30am-12:30pm
  Thursday, September 23, 7:00pm-9:00pm
  Both sessions will be held at Whole Foods Lincoln Park, 1550 N. Kingsbury Street, Chicago, IL 60642
  
  Selecting the school that is right for your child and family can feel overwhelming, especially in Chicago where choices on different
  private and public school options abound. Join us at NPN’s next Parent University session to learn more about schooling options for your child.
  
  Our panel includes representatives from the CPS Office of Academic Enhancement, CPS Office of Early Childhood Education and The Catherine Cook School and parents who have successfully navigated the school search process. Our panelists will offer advice, share important information and answer questions. Learn about key questions to ask when researching schools, what to look for during school tours, how to connect with other involved parents, and much more!
  
  Have questions for our panelists? Email them to programdir@npnparents.org or bring them to the event- we'll share all questions with the panel.
  
  Open to active members only! Due to space constraints, this event is for adults only, no children. Please have one e-ticket for each attending adult. RSVP today as space is limited for this highly popular program.
  
  Event registration is closed at this time. Please RSVP for the waitlist and we will contact you if space becomes available.
  
  
  
  About our panelists:
  
  Bonnie K. Roelle is currently the Director of the Preschool for All and Tuition Based Preschool programs for the Chicago Public Schools. These two programs serve over 13,000 three and four year old children. Bonnie’s entire career has been spent in the early childhood field, as a classroom teacher, parent educator, and administrator. She is a NAEYC assessor and served on NAEYC’s accreditation Commission for six years. Bonnie also teaches part time at DePaul University, working with student teachers.
  
  Jill Due is the Director of Admission at The Catherine Cook School in Chicago and has been in education for 16 years. Jill approaches her position as a teacher, keeping in mind first and foremost the success of the child. She has been employed at The Catherine Cook School since 2004. She began as the school librarian, updating the library collection, and implementing the electronic cataloging system. When The Catherine Cook School introduced SMART Boards™ and its one-to-one laptop program in the school, Jill taught fifth grade mathematics using this innovative technology. Prior to joining The Catherine Cook School, she worked as a public elementary school teacher for ten years, seven of which were spent in the Chicago Public Schools. She entered the field of education as a second career, after spending ten years in business.
  

  A representative from the Chicago Public Schools Office of Academic Enhancement will also be serving on the panel. The OAE believes all of Chicago’s children and their families deserve access to quality educational options that meet their diverse educational needs and interests. The OAE provides information, answers questions, and resolves concerns regarding the application and selection process for Magnet Schools and Programs, Gifted and Enriched Academic Programs, and Selective Enrollment High School Options. They also counsel parents regarding specific programs available. As part of their community outreach, the OAE also makes presentations at day care centers, preschools, and community organizations regarding schools and programs available.
  

  
  Special thanks to our moderator:
  Crystal Yednak covers education for the Chicago News Cooperative and is leading plans for enhanced schools coverage on the CNC's new web site. She has written about schools and state politics for the Chicago Tribune, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and other publications. Crystal is also a member of NPN, as she is mom to two adventure-seeking boys, Harry, 3, and Maxwell, 1.
  The Chicago News Cooperative was founded in 2009 as a nonprofit news organization committed to public service journalism. The CNC publishes a Chicago Report twice a week in the pages of the New York Times. In the coming months, the CNC will launch a new web site that will include a section devoted to news about Illinois schools.
  

Prior PU Event Recaps

Missed one of our Parent University sessions? We understand how difficult it is to make time to get to events.  The following Recaps were developed for us to share some highlights from Parent University with everyone who could not attend.  See you at the next session!

• Expanding the Palate of the Picky Eater, Jan. 30th, 2010 – Recap
• Protecting the Mommy Brain, Feb. 11th, 2010 - Recap
• H is for Healthy!, Mar. 16th, 2010 - Recap

More about COUNTRY Financial - Presenting Sponsor

Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor: COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services