ParentCamp is proud to announce our own April Draine has completed the Boone County School’s District Ambassador Program. Selected ambassadors, made up of parents and community members, attend monthly trainings and tours of departments that run the school district. Ambassadors learn how the school district operates and they will become bridge builders in the community.
“The Superintendent District Ambassador Program was a great opportunity for me,” said April, “being a new transplant to Kentucky with my family. The monthly meetings allowed our group to meet with Dr. Tuner and various departments that help run and make Boone County schools operate on a daily basis.”
April joined ParentCamp in the fall of 2023, “to help learn a potential software Julie and Laura were wanting to use,” said April. “After a few weeks I reached out to them and mentioned my heart was really more interested in engaging with the people side of ParentCamp.” She was then trained to be a Facilitator and has hosted two Virtual ParentCamps. April’s role continues to expand, and she is now producing and hosting the new “ParentCamp Podcast.”
Before joining ParentCamp, April spent ten years in the Sales Analysis and Info Technology space before pivoting into what she calls personal passions in 2015. Those experiences include Substitute Teacher in the K-12 school system, Women’s Ministry Lead for 4 years, communication and Development Coordinator for Dorothy Day House in Memphis, a non-profit that kept homeless families together, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in the Foster Care/Family Service space, School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Minority Parent Representative, and Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership (CIPL) 2022-2023 Fellow.
“We’re thrilled that April took the initiative to be involved in her local community,” said ParentCamp president Julia Pile. “She is constantly finding ways to get plugged in and build capacity, not only in herself but in other parents. Her passion influences other parents, her children, and the children of our community.”
“The opportunity to meet other parents and heads of each department” said April, “and share concerns, or simply being made more aware of the how’s and why’s behind many decisions, helped me to gain a deeper level of understanding and respect for what it takes to run a school district, especially one that ranks so well in the state of Kentucky.”
ParentCamp encourages all parents to find, or start, programs that help them understand what’s involved in running a school district so trust and relationships can be built, and communication improved.
“I’m excited to be a part of this team,” said April. “I’m looking forward to more partnerships, community collaboration, and bringing awareness to the importance of parent-family-school-community engagement.”
