Christie Saccomanno

Parents Education Network

This grassroots non-profit organization with growing national impact was founded in 2003 by a group of parents whose children had learning and attention differences, and who individually struggled to find the information, services and expertise needed to help their children succeed academically. They did not want other parents to experience the isolation and frustration they encountered. They came to believe strongly that parents and educators must work collaboratively with students to help children with learning and attention differences understand their individual strengths and challenges. The organization practices a theory of change that evolved in San Francisco over the past ten years. The theory of change goes like this… • If parents and their children who learn differently are exposed to the latest learning research and apply that research to daily decisions; AND • They connect face-to-face with each other, share resources to meet common needs, and create a community that works together for student success; AND • They collaborate with professionals who also strive to apply the latest learning research; • THEN….odds increase that children with learning and attention differences will become all they can be.