News Release

February 12, 2004

29th Countywide Parent Conference to be held at Lompoc High School

“Parents Are Teachers, Too” is the theme of the 29th annual Santa Barbara County Parent Conference, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 6 at Lompoc High School, 515 West College Avenue, Lompoc, where featured speaker Michael Craft will present “The Power of Parenting.”

Registration deadline is March 1.

Experts in child development, education, and family relations will present a wide variety of workshops including parenting, speeding up delayed speech, the angry child, leaders and achievers, creating calm in your family, building your family bond, understanding the four personality types, removing communication roadblocks, and moms and daughters surviving the teenage years.

The conference includes lunch and a comprehensive information fair in addition to the featured presentations.

“ The conference is planned to be an informative and educational day for all who take part,” said county superintendent Bill Cirone, whose office coordinates the program. “Attending parents will leave with new information and materials and a good feeling from knowing that their time was well spent improving themselves and their families.”

Parent evaluations always indicate they’ve been uplifted by the conference. Last year’s parent comments included the following:

“ The first two workshops I chose were excellent, but the last one helped heal my heart. I was cold and without love, now I will go home full of love and happiness to share with my children.”

“ When I went in I felt very small but came out feeling like a giant.”

“ Thank you! I cried so much and wrote beautiful letters to my loved ones. It opened my heart and out poured tears of hope, love, and joy. It takes such courage to overcome our fears, but well worth the efforts!”

“ I know there is hope for my family. We can change and become better.”

“ This was a great experience for me. I've learned a lot on how to handle things better.”
“ I do not have children, but am a preschool teacher. I will use the techniques I learned in my classroom.”

“ It reminded me that my kids are and should be my first priority. As such, they deserve my attention and use of problem solving skills.”

“ Thank you so much. I'm on my way to hug my child and say ‘how are you today? I believe in you, I have faith in you. The world has not yet seen what you have to offer.’ This was so emotionally revealing to me. Thank you again!”

The Parents Are Teachers, Too conference typically attracts some 500 participants and is the largest event of its type in the state. It is co-sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Education Office; California Rural League Assistance; City of Lompoc Community Action Commission Head Start and Los Compadres; Dorothy Jackson Center/Ruth School; First Five; Healthy Start of Guadalupe, Los Alamos, and Santa Maria-Bonita; Health Linkages; KCOY/KKFX; Lompoc Adult School; Lompoc Unified School District; Migrant Education Region XVIII and XXII; People Helping People; Santa Barbara County Public Health Department; Santa Barbara School District; Santa Maria-Bonita School District; Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians; Special Education Local Plan Area; UCSB Early Academic Outreach; and the 15th District PTA.

Door prizes this year will include a Dell computer and monitor.

Parents must pre-register. Forms are available at schools or by calling the Center for Community Education at 569-3873.

This event is designed for adults only. There are no provisions for childcare or babies.