Celebrating Nicole Griseta – Parent Educator of the Year 2024
We are thrilled to announce that Nicole Griseta, of Rockford School District 205, has been awarded the Parent Educator of the Year for 2024 by Parents as Teachers National!
Please join us in celebrating Nicole’s incredible achievements, as highlighted by her supervisor, Nichole Giovanni, who shared these heartfelt words about her impact and dedication.
Nicole has a natural ability to work and engage with families. Nicole works with families in a way that they ask to return to her when they have left the program due to a transition and want to return when they have more children. There are also special requests from community members/referral agencies to have families placed with Nicole because of her ability to connect with families organically. Nicole does not hesitate to jump in and provide a listening ear. Nicole also allows families to just be who they are. Nicole meets families where they are at as this is not just a saying to her, but a genuine feeling. She wants the experience for every family that she works with to be one that the family and the child will remember.
Nicole takes time to learn about the family’s culture. When Nicole does not know or understand she honors the family’s culture by asking questions to get to know without judgement. Nicole has worked with families in our community including Asian, African, Hispanic and many that could not speak English. Nicole has worked with over 10 different cultures and languages and strived to learn something about each of these families in order to support her families during the time she has worked with them. Nicole took the time to learn how to speak words in their language, so she could communicate with the families. Nicole goes out of her way to find support in the community to help link the families. During visits, Nicole always asks how their culture impacts their parenting and most importantly how she can support their culture and integrate their native language/culture during visits. Nicole has worked with one family to help the mother get her citizenship. Nicole worked with another family to learn English so she could support her child in school.
Nicole, a reserved individual, exhibits the spirit of a true Panda (our team mascot); peaceful, gentle, sensitive and friendly. Nicole will take the lead where needed and will follow if that is her role. Nicole ensures that the needs of the team are always met. Nicole never hesitates to provide her fellow teammates with support (going along on visits as an extra set of hands, ear or eyes), helpful hand (at events to ensure everything gets completed all the way until the end) or guidance (providing a listening ear). She mentors new staff, whether asked to do so or she has recognized the need to support the staff. Nicole has compassion for her fellow Pandas and wants all staff to do their best to support the families.
Nicole has had an amazing impact on families and the community as a whole. Nicole has supported her families in numerous ways. Nicole has supported some of her mothers in learning to read and learning how to speak English. Nicole has supported families in advocating for the rights of their children in school. Nicole has advocated for her families to gain better housing. Nicole has supported her families in not only the development of their children, but she has worked with prenatal and teen moms to ensure they have better birthing outcomes. Nicole has advocated for families involved in the child welfare system. Nicole has spent years in our community working toward better outcomes for children in our community. Nicole is not only an advocate for families and children in our program, but also an advocate for families in our community. Nicole has worked in our child welfare system and been a foster parent. Nicole believes all parents should have a chance to be their child’s first teacher no matter what their circumstances and she is dedicated to ensuring that happens.
Nicole believes strongly in professional development and personal growth. Nicole’s greatest endeavors currently are around prenatal mothers and neurodiversity. Nicole is interested in becoming a doula. Nicole has been requesting that we get a doula component to our program for the last 5 years. Nicole has made it her mission to take any professional development that she can to serve the prenatal mothers. Nicole also has taken several professional development trainings around neurodiverse children. Nicole jumps at the chance to take on all professional opportunities around these two topics. Nicole believes that the more she is aware the better she can serve her families and more she can grow as a person.
Nicole has been on a mission of personal and professional growth since she graduated from high school. Nicole graduated high school early and went to Africa to serve in a war-torn community to support the children and families. After graduation she went into a field to serve children and families. This not only shows Nicole’s passion and compassion for service, but service to those who are in need. Nicole runs one of parent/child groups at the Discovery Center. Nicole ran the teen moms’ group through our alternative high school for several years, taking on many of the mothers as participants.
The PAT IL State Office is proud to have dedicated and compassionate educators like Nicole Griseta in Illinois. Her commitment to cultural sensitivity, family support, and professional growth exemplifies the values we uphold. Congratulations, Nicole, on this well-deserved recognition. We look forward to seeing the continued positive impact you will make in the lives of families and children.