LaRonda Thomas: Takes On New Role as CPS Parent Champion
LaRonda Thomas
Class 2, Lead
What is your Vision for Impact statement?
Through this seat, I seek to influence and develop an inclusive community for students and parents to thrive through open dialogue and partnerships with a focus on empowering, motivating, and supporting families to succeed. I want to establish an inclusive community of parent engagement through support to ensure that parents feel that their voices are heard and valued.
Two years ago, I was sitting at a School Board School session reflecting on the impact I wanted to make, and now I am sitting in that exact seat as Parent Champion of Cincinnati Public Schools. When I started School Board School, I still wasn’t sure where my place was within this scope of work; I had an idea of the work I wanted to pursue, I had the passion and knew my purpose, but I wasn’t sure how to get there or what it would look like. My journey began with my personal, spiritual, and professional pursuit to become a woman of value. My purpose led me to Cincinnati City Council for Gals to Women, a community engagement affair to broaden one's view on advocating in their local community, and during said time I was also enrolled at MORTAR to peel back the layers of my marketing business to make it more impactful and sustainable.
At the time my purpose made a pivot from supporting upcoming small businesses with creative marketing plans and goals, to supporting the next generation to “Ignite their Purpose.” My own marketing tagline became my real call to action to impact young learners into leaders of tomorrow. And as I began to stretch my vision and expand my reach, School Board School became a part of my path to equip me for what was lying ahead.
During the learning program’s session “Big Issues in Education,” I had the opportunity to meet and converse with Ohio State Representative Sedrick Denson. Not only did he kindly take time out of his busy schedule to speak to the Class 2 members of School Board School, he also took time to sit down with me one-on-one. This is where I knew I had found my place and my people for this stage of my purposeful journey. At that session, Representative Denson told me, “there is a platform for everyone’s voice,” and this truly stuck with me and guided me along my journey to where I am at today. He assured me that my impact was and would continue to be significant and that I would make a difference and impact on the community. This conversation, along with many others throughout my time in SBS, have led me to where I am today.
If I hadn’t created this Vision for Impact Statement, the work that I am doing today would not have even been on my radar. My Vision for Impact Statement was a way for me to set a goal for myself and the work that I hoped to do in the future. My Vision for Impact Statement led me to the opportunity to be a Parent Champion. Without School Board School and my purpose to ignite lives, this opportunity would have passed me by.
When I think of the power of School Board School, I not only think about my personal seat, but about how each of us are on a journey to make an impact and that those around us are listening and ready to support these journeys.
As a part of the learning program, two years ago, a group of peers and I focused on parent engagement and creating a way for families to feel like they had all of the information they needed. We presented an idea of creating a handbook for parents new to the district who needed help navigating it, and now that is what I get to do! CPS was listening, all of Cincinnati is listening and learning, and we have the privilege of getting to turn our ideas into action.
In my new role, I focus on advocating for parents and empowering effective relationships within our schools, and supporting a diverse and inclusive culture of lifelong learners. Leading the Parent Voice on various platforms keeps me focused on working and collaborating with the district and our many community partners where we engage by creating and providing meaningful resources that will impact both parents and students.
It’s simple: “See a need, fill a need.” I am looking to fill the gaps and bridge strong bonds between parents, students, CPS staff and community partners.
I also have the opportunity to honor, acknowledge, celebrate, and highlight the positive things that are happening throughout our Community Learning Centers through various partnerships. There are so many extraordinary things that I love about this new role, but I mostly love being able to be creative with my voice and speak to multiple generations of CPS learners, and impact tomorrow. This opportunity allows me to speak with all of CPS- the students, families, partners, community members, politicians, and current and previous staff. We are all CPS in some way, and we rise together by supporting each other.
