Change begins when we embrace diverse experiences and perspectives. My journey started in Mazatlán, México, but today, my focus is on breaking barriers here in Arizona, especially for my children. While Arizona’s education system is full of potential, it often overlooks voices like ours: immigrant parents carrying wisdom, resilience, and a deep desire to help our kids thrive.
My name is Denia, and I’m a proud mother of two children enrolled in Arizona’s public schools. I grew up in Mexico, and when I immigrated to the United States 13 years ago, it was a life-changing experience. I didn’t speak the language fluently, but I arrived with a dream: to become everything I had imagined.
My parents only completed school through the sixth grade, but they instilled in me a love for learning. Education wasn’t optional, it was, as they often told me, my “only obligation and responsibility”. Seeing their pride when I received awards and hanging my diplomas on the walls of our home meant everything to me. It showed me that education mattered, not just to me, but to them, too.
As an immigrant to this country, I’ve always felt a deep responsibility to give back to the place that became my new and now forever home. I chose to dedicate my career to the nonprofit sector because I wanted to be part of meaningful change, supporting families who, like mine, work hard to build a better life. Over the past 12 years, this work has been the most rewarding experience of my professional life. It has shown me that education and community empowerment have the power to transform not only individual lives but entire generations. I always try to involve my children in my work, bringing them with me whenever possible so they can experience firsthand what it means to serve others. Seeing how proud they feel in those moments reminds me why I do this work and gives me hope that they, too, will carry these values forward. My hope is that my children grow up inspired by this work, and that they continue contributing to a community that once opened its doors to us.
Now, as a parent, education has taken on an even deeper meaning. With my kids in Elementary School, I often find myself asking:
“What truly is best for them?”
Like any parent, I want them to have every opportunity possible. But for us, as an immigrant family, those opportunities carry even more weight. Is it access to college one day? Safe schools where learning is a priority? After-school programs that help them grow? Scholarships that open doors? These are the questions I struggle with as I navigate the school system. At times it feels overwhelming, and I can’t help but hope my children will have the ALL opportunities they deserve.
We live in uncertain times, and families like mine often wonder what stability really looks like. For my children, I want more than survival, I want them to flourish. That means schools with modern programs and caring teachers, resources that meet their needs, and pathways that let them explore their talents without being limited by money or background.
Years ago, I thought my focus was merely on parent engagement, but it has become so much more. It is about authentic parent engagement, supporting parents with immigrant perspectives to navigate the school system confidently. I’ve seen firsthand how families like mine often lack access to information and resources. Yet when given the tools and confidence, parents are ready and willing to contribute to their children’s education. Parent engagement isn’t just helping with homework or attending meetings, it’s about empowering families to participate in decisions that shape their children’s education. When parents feel seen, heard, and supported, they become advocates, leaders, and change-makers. This is what I want my children to see: a community where voices are heard and opportunities are real.
Research backs this up. According to the National PTA, students with engaged parents are more likely to earn higher grades, attend school regularly, and graduate.
YET in Arizona, inequities persist:
- Nearly 1 in 5 children in Arizona live below the poverty line, according to U.S. Census data.
- Latino students make up over 47% of the student population but remain underrepresented in gifted programs and Advanced Placement courses.
- In some underserved schools, the student-to-counselor ratio is as high as 900:1, far above the national recommendation of 250:1.
These inequities matter to me because they directly affect what opportunities my children will have. My hope is that they grow up in a system that values every student equally.
Two and a half years ago, I began working at ALL In Education with the Parent Educator Academy. This role allows me to empower families with the knowledge and confidence to navigate schools, and it has helped me advocate for my own children. I’ve seen parents step up in remarkable ways: attending school board meetings, speaking to legislators, asking for better resources, and pushing for inclusive curricula. I want my children to see that their parents, and their community can shape the schools around them.
After graduating from the Parent Educator Academy, many parents go on to work in schools as bus drivers, crossing guards, paraprofessionals, aides, and classroom volunteers. Each one contributes in their own way, committed to doing more. I often say: it’s not that parents don’t want to participate, it’s that they often don’t know how. When we show them how to help their children and their schools, they rise to the challenge every time.
Ultimately, my dream is simple but powerful: I want my children to graduate as first-generation college students in this country, a country that gave me opportunities and now offers them hope for a brighter future. Every choice I make, every barrier I challenge, is guided by these questions: Am I doing the best I can? What is truly best for my children?
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