Kim Chester

Named 2011 Phil Pickens Award Winner

Kim Chester, (left) Bartow County Parent Mentor, receives her Phil Pickens award from Kathy Simmons, GaPMP Leadership Council Chair-elect. 

Kim Chester,  who has served as parent mentor for Bartow County Schools for the last eight years, was awarded the Phil Pickens Parent Mentor Leadership Award at the Parent Mentor Partnership fall conference in Athens, Georgia, on Sept. 21-23, 2011. Presented annually, the Phil Pickens Award acknowledges the hard work and dedication of a special education administrator and a parent mentor for their leadership roles.

The award is named for the late Phil Pickens, former Special Education Director for the state of Georgia and founder of the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership.

Ms. Chester was selected because of her leadership in her  local district, region, the state, and the nation.

Ms. Chester’s nomination statement said, “This 2011 Phil Pickens Parent Mentor Leadership Award recipient has worked tirelessly to build positive relationships between educators and families in her local district. She often meets one-on-one with parents, helping them in whatever way necessary. Some parents need help organizing  their thoughts for an upcoming IEP meeting, . Some need help learning to trust the collaborative process. Some just need a friendly face and a listening ear when they are struggling.  This Mentor meets those needs.

Our Award recipient partners with many local agencies to help families connect with the resources they need to help their children succeed.

She has worked with the Navigator Team, Parent to Parent, and the local Autism group and helps connect families with resource fairs, respite, camps, and sports opportunities. 

Parents and students in this Mentor’s district better understand graduation requirements and their role as IEP team members, in part through tools she developed for families. She is also the co-author of a bestselling educational text for school improvement, ‘Using RTI for School Improvement – Raising Every Student’s Achievement Scores’.”  

This busy mom somehow finds the time and energy to also serve as a leader at the state level. She is active on the legislative front, influencing policies that impact families and children with disabilities. Her influence extends to the national level, where she has made presentations with the assistance of her daughter, her inspiration for her work. In 2010, she was awarded the Council Member of the Year Award by the Ga Council on Developmental Disabilities.

This Mentor is not only appreciated for the work she does but for the spirit she shows in all she does. She is kind, she is compassionate, she is loving, and her humble and unassuming nature make her a Mentor for us all to emulate.

Tracy Barber, the 2010 Phil Pickens Award winner, presented the award to Ms. Chester. Ms. Chester said that she was humbled by this honor and expressed her desire that “every one of you (mentors) deserve this award.”

The Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership is a joint initiative between the Georgia State Department of Education, Division for Special Education and Supports and local school districts. Hall County was one of the first school districts in the state to participate in the Partnership, with the goal to improve student achievement through increased family engagement.

JoEllen Harden Receives Phil Pickens Leadership Award

JoEllen Harden, Dodge County Special Education Director, was awarded the Phil Pickens Parent Mentor Leadership Award at the Parent Mentor Partnership fall conference in Athens, Georgia, on September 22, 2011.  Presented annually, the Phil Pickens Award acknowledges the hard work and dedication of a special education administrator and a parent mentor for their leadership roles.

Dodge County Schools Special Education Director, Joellen Harden is congratulated by her family after the award ceremony.

The award is named for the late Phil Pickens, former Special Education Director for the state of Georgia and founder of the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership. 

Hosted by the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership Leadership Council, the Phil Pickens Leadership Award is a statewide honor recognizing outstanding leadership in the collaborative work between home, school and community to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, outstanding contributions to the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership program, and consistent outstanding leadership accomplishments in special education.

Last year’s recipient, Dr. Suzanne Carter, Walton County Special Education Director, presented the award to Mrs. Harden.  Mrs. Harden was excited to have been selected.  This statewide recognition is a tribute to her many years advocating for special education students.  Mrs. Harden secured Kathy Simmons as Dodge County’s Parent Mentor seven years ago when this program first became available.  Together, this partnership is a “win-win” for parents, schools, and students with disabilities in Dodge County.

The Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership is a joint initiative between the Georgia State Department of Education, Division of Special Education and Supports and local school districts.  Dodge County was one of the first school districts in the state to participate in the Partnership, with the goal to improve student achievement through increased family engagement.