Veronica Palmer has seen firsthand the importance of family engagement in a child’s education. She grew up in a household that emphasized getting good grades and attending university, something she says was passed down from her grandmother, a former gang member who escaped poverty through education. “She just woke up one day and said ‘there has to be a better way'” says Palmer, explaining her grandmother’s decision that eventually lead to a master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver. “That decision to pursue an education completely transformed my family for decades to come.”
Palmer believes that family investment is vital for kids’ educational success. She encouraged that involvement in her classroom when she served as a Teach For America Corps member back in 2006 and continues to do so today as she serves as the co-founder of RISE Colorado, an organization that educates and empowers minority families to take greater ownership in their kids’ learning.