By Debra Wood
Drawing on two decades of experience as a public-school teacher, Alice Iorio of St. Ives authored the book How to Become a Champion Parent, in which she shares her tips for securing children’s scholastic futures.
“I was spiritually inspired, and I wanted to write a book to empower parents to be involved in the schools,” Alice said. “Parental involvement and academic success are so related. One depends upon the other.”
The desire to author the book, outlining how parents can develop a champion mindset, led her to temporarily give up teaching to focus on writing full time. Before leaving the public-school classroom, Alice surveyed her middle-school students about the parental support they received. She found that parents provided the springboard to learning. However, during parental conferences, she discovered parents did not know how to best help their children and sought her suggestions.
In her new book, Alice Iorio of St. Ives shares tips on how parents can inspire their children’s academic success.
Alice's recommendations include attending meetings at school or sending a representative; scheduling a parental conference whenever it seems necessary; networking with other parents; making sure to follow through with commitments; and sending children to school prepared with the basics, such as knowing the alphabet and how to add and subtract. She said champion parenting is a skill that needs to be practiced.
The book addresses friendships and expectations, as well as academic issues. It also helps parents guide students through the difficult transition from elementary to middle school.
“[Children] are of an age where they want the independence, but they are not all ready to become independent learners,” Alice said. “Parents have to continue to be supportive. They still need to do the things they did with them in elementary school, but by the same token, give them space and support them along the way.”
Alice has returned to the classroom, this time as an instructor for Introduction to Teaching at Valencia Community College, where she trains future educators.
“At this point in my career, I can really assist them, because I just came from the school system,” Alice said. “I think I can be of great service to them. It’s a perfect match.”
Vantage Press Inc. of New York published How to Become a Champion Parent in 2006. Alice dedicated it to her parents, who she considered champions.
“They instilled in me all I know,” she said. “My best years were when I had the support of my parents ... It’s teamwork. Together everyone achieves more.”
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