Parents as Teachers Honors Alaska Minority Leader Chris Tuck (D-AK)
Parents as Teachers to present Rep. Tuck with the Tweedie Human Services and Early Learning Scholarship Award at International Conference in St. Louis, Oct. 17-19
ST. LOUIS (October 12, 2016) — Parents as Teachers, an internationally recognized leader in the early childhood home visiting field, will award the Tweedie Human Services and Early Learning Scholarship and Award to Alaska Minority Leader Chris Tuck (D-AK) at the non-profit’s international conference in St. Louis Oct. 17 – 19.
“Rep. Tuck has championed Parents as Teachers as well as early education and child care throughout his four terms in the Alaska State Legislature,” said Constance Gully, Parents as Teachers Interim Chief Executive Officer. “More than once he has saved the Parents as Teachers program from extreme budget cuts. We applaud his efforts and thank him for tirelessly working for the benefit of the young children of Alaska.”
In 2013, Rep. Tuck introduced legislation to expand Parents as Teachers across the state. The next year, he fought to maintain state funding for the organization after it was eliminated in early budget proposals. In 2015, Parents as Teachers was threatened again, but Rep. Tuck successfully negotiate restoration of the program and fought to keep the Imagination Library and pre-K programs, as well.
"Minority Leader Tuck is a true champion for children in Alaska," said Debi Baldwin, Rural CAP’s Child Development Division Director. "He understands that the prenatal to pre-k years are incredibly important for children’s optimal development. He is unwavering in his support for parents as their child’s most important teacher. Representative Tuck helped increase and maintain access to evidence based home visiting programs like Parents as Teachers for children and families throughout the state."
Before serving as an Alaska state representative, the people of Anchorage elected Rep. Tuck to the Anchorage School Board in 2007, where he served as Treasurer until 2009, when he won his first state house race. In the Alaska State Legislature, Tuck has focused on job creation, lowering energy costs for consumers and providing solid education for Alaska’s youth and workforce.
“Ensuring quality education for Alaska’s youth has become my life’s work,” said Tuck. “The earlier we begin to enhance the way we educate our children, the more promising their future becomes. Early education works and is a wise investment because it stretches a little bit of money into big returns for our children. That’s why I’ve fought for Parents as Teachers, so that it can thrive and continue to help our children in their quest for learning. It’s an honor to receive this award for something I care about so passionately.”
Parents as Teachers and the National Conference of State Legislatures partnered to award the Tweedie Human Services and Early Learning Scholarship and Award in memory of the late Parents as Teachers board member, Jack Tweedie. For more information about the conference and Parents as Teachers, click here.
About Parents as Teachers
Founded in Missouri in 1984, Parents as Teachers serves more than 212,000 children in all 50 U.S. states, more than 100 Tribal organizations, schools and communities, and five other countries. Its internationally recognized network uses an evidence-based model to deliver parent education primarily through personal visits and group meetings, equipping parents with knowledge and resources to prepare their children, from birth through kindergarten, for a stronger start in life and greater success in school. Parents as Teachers programs operate in various settings, including schools, hospitals, faith-based organizations and housing communities. For more information, visit www.ParentsAsTeachers.org.
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