Community Highlights: Meet Edna Vann of Parent to School

Today we’d like to introduce you to Edna Vann.

Edna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Following graduation from Murfreesboro High School in Murfreesboro, NC,  I attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC where I earned a Bachelor of Science (1981), a Master of Science (1983), and a Master of Education (1985).

A retired educator with 35 years of service, I was employed in Durham Public Schools, and the Wake County Public School systems, serving in the capacity of Special Education teacher (elementary and middle school levels), School Administrator (middle and high school levels), and as Senior Administrator (Dispute Resolution) on the Policy Team for Special Education Services in Wake County Public Schools. I retired in July 2018 from the Wake County Public School System.

As a Senior Administrator, I gained a plethora of knowledge and skills in Special Education Policy and Procedures, Compliance, Dispute Resolution, Facilitation and Mediation, team  building and fostering positive working relationships with school teams and parents. During my last five years before retirement as a Senior Administrator for Special Education Services, a large percentage of my time was spent in meetings, supporting school teams with concerns related to non-compliance, policy and procedures, and disputes between parents and the school.

During these school meetings (IEP), I realized that much of the conflict or misunderstanding was due to a lack of communication between school and parent(s)… parents not understanding the special education process… not always knowing what to ask, and not having someonein the meetings  to help them advocate in support of their child.

It was at one of these meetings that I realized upon my retirement I would create a platform to support parents in advocating for their special needs child and assist them in learning how to navigate the special education process. In June 2019, I received my LLC business license to begin Parent To School. The  main focus of Parent To School is to empower parents to advocate for their school-aged special needs children.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road in the sense of acquiring a large parent clientele. In the beginning, that was okay because I was still discovering what was required to run a business, and to be honest, since I was in retirement, I wasn’t trying to work full-time or hard again, just smarter.

I attended a few sessions on starting your first business which was helpful, and I spoke with family and friends that had already gone through their first couple of years in business which was also a great help. Since 2019, my services have only engaged about five parents. I have spoken with more parents, but every conversation or question does not require a fee. I want to assist parents to acquire the tools they need to help their students to become more successful.  I have supported parents from several counties in NC and also a parent from Denver, CO.

I want to help bridge the gap between parents and school so that they work as a team in providing what the student needs. All of my referrals have been word-of-mouth. The first parent I worked with was a referral from a friend. At the end of a Bible Study, a grandmother asked for prayer for her grandson because he was having difficulties in school. She felt the school administrators were not listening to his mother. My friend told the grandmother about my business and my background. The grandmother, mother, and I connected. I am still supporting that family today.

One of my struggles included advertising my business  and services to the public on a larger scale. In 2021, I hired a web designer to develop a webpage for “ Parent To School”, created new business cards, and utilized Linkedin.com and Facebook to help publicize my business.

One of my goals is to provide  parent training related to Preparation for School Meetings and Understanding the Special Education Process. As the pandemic has placed a halt on in-person meetings, I must strategize on how to virtually reach and engage interested stakeholders.

As you know, we’re big fans of Parent to School. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Parent To School, LLC/Special Education Consultant, and Advocacy was created in June 2019 to help bridge the gap between parents and school. The goals of Parent To School are:

1) To inform, educate, support, and empower parents to become equal partners with schools;
2) To provide parents essential tools and resources to advocate for their child (ren) educational and unique needs.
My role as Parent Navigator is to facilitate working relationships between schools and parents. My skills include consultation, facilitation, mediation, collaboration, and training.
My services include:
Consultant -Assist parents in understanding and navigating the special education process (referrals, evaluations, Individual Education Plan-IEP); support parents in preparing for IEP and/or school-related meetings; attend school-related meetings with parents; hold pre-and post-meeting with parents;
Trainer-Train parents on how to advocate for their child(ren), and provide Local Education Agency (LEA) training for schools and administrators on IEP policy and procedures;
Audit files -Audit student special education files and provide written reports for parents
Collaboration- Collaborate with school staff, teachers and community based agencies;
Finally, what I want my readers to know about my brand is that I am invested in children. My belief is that all children can be successful with the right support and failure is not an option when schools and parents work together.

Contact information:
Parent To School: Bridging the Gap Between Parents and School
Edna Vann, M. ED
Parent Navigator
parenttoshoolnc@gmail.com
919-452-8272
Parenttoschoolnc.com

What do you think about luck?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in blessings and favor. My faith and belief in God’s plan for my life and business are why I consider my business and life successful.   Anyone who works in education and really enjoy what they do understands early in their educational career that money is not key to career fulfillment.

I have always had a heart for helping people and my years in education, especially special education, have afforded me the opportunity to do so. Prior to working as a Special Education teacher, I worked as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and volunteered with the Special Olympics.

I used to think it was ironic that I started my career as a Special Education teacher, retire thirty-five years later as a Senior Administrator in Special Education, and then started a business supporting students and parents in special education. One could say that my career has proceeded full circle. I now know it was God’s plan for me to continue in this work.

Contact Info:

• Email: parenttoschoolnc@gmail.com
• Website: Parenttoschoolnc.com