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Some parents feel called to get involved in the process of their child’s schooling, perhaps joining a parent-teacher organization. But some are so dedicated, they find themselves chosen to participate at the state level. This is an honor that Shweta Patel has now received twice. 

Patel moved from India to Bainbridge in 2006 to join her husband, and became a US citizen in 2009. She had already graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy in India, and proceeded to attend Bainbridge College to get the corresponding American degree. She had also, for a time, been a stay-at-home mother, but as her son and daughter began attending school, she decided to take an active role, working as a parent volunteer in the Decatur County school system. 

“I have participated in so many volunteer works,” she recalled, “especially fundraising events and organizing fundraisers and all, working at school half of the time throughout the year.” 

She even put her physical therapy career on hold to work with the school system, having passed completed her courses in 2021, around the time the Decatur County school system began to reorganize and consolidate the schools and grades. Patel stated she was approached by Kim Johnson to work as a parent volunteer at Hutto. “So I just held onto my career for physical therapy for one year and started working as a volunteer for a time.”

Patel’s volunteer work did not go unnoticed, and she was nominated by the Board of Education to be a member of the State Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC) for the first time in 2021. This council consists of parents from across the state, and provides input on new policies that will impact students and families alike. One area of focus is on increasing parent engagement; to that end, Patel has contributed in ways like creating a video about the State’s Multi-Tiered System Surveys, encouraging parents to take the surveys. 

Patel’s service with the PAC was enough to get her nominated and ultimately chosen to participate again this past fall. According to Dr. Crycynthia Gardner, the Decatur County Board of Education’s Family Engagement Coordinator, while the Board of Education nominates parents for the council, it’s ultimately the state that chooses. The fact that the state selected Patel twice to serve on the council speaks to her dedication. 

Patel will serve with the 2024-26 PAC, and continue to encourage parent engagement. One way will be raising awareness of several Department of Education apps for parents, aimed at keeping parents informed about what their students are learning. 

“For example, what my child will be learning in fifth grade, in science,” Patel said as an example, “so you can open up that science app, click on the fifth grade, and you can see all the answers to things asked by parents. And if you send a question, they will answer you.”

When not working with the Parent’s Advisory Council, her physical therapy practice keeps her busy. Not content to rest on her laurels either, Patel stated she plans to continue her volunteer involvement in the school system after completing her current PAC term.

“My main goal is to serve Decatur County Schools as a volunteer,” she said, “and get more parents involved in it and support the school system, because we are in a really blessed country, where they constantly work for education and for the kid’s future.” 

“As partners in the education system of our children,” Patel concluded, “your support is vital to the success of our school community. The investment in education today will definitely improve our children’s future with great potential and knowledge.”