Parents Defending Education over the weekend recognized Virginia Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin with the “Parent Champion Award” and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard with the “Moral Courage Award” at the group’s first annual Parent Retreat and Conference.
The event hosted parents from across the country to educate them with ways to make change in their school districts and hold school administrators and board members accountable.
Read the full press release below:
Alexandria, VA. Nov. 22, 2021– This weekend, Parents Defending Education recognized Virginia Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin with its “Parent Champion Award” and Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard with its “Moral Courage Award.”
The awards were presented at PDE’s 1st Annual Parent Retreat and Conference which brought together parents from all over the country to educate and equip them with the tools they need to make change and hold their children’s school administrators and school board members accountable.
Asra Nomani, Vice President of Strategy and Investigations for Parents Defending Education said, “Parents Defending Education could not think of a more deserving recipient of our ‘Parent Champion Award’ than Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin. He understands the frustration of parents who have spent almost two years trying to fully reopen their schools and get answers about what their kids are learning. Parents have been mocked and ridiculed by the media, told that we don’t have a primary role in our kids’ education by arrogant politicians, and targeted for investigation by the Department of Justice and FBI, but Governor-Elect Youngkin’s message to parents has been, ‘I hear you.’ Parents want to be heard and we want action, and we need people to champion the cause of concerned parents no matter their politics. Governor-Elect Younkin is that champion. He gives hope to parents nationwide.”
In accepting the award, Governor-Elect Youngkin said: “It is an honor to represent parents not only in the Commonwealth of Virginia but the nation. Parenting is a sacred duty, and I am honored to receive this recognition from Parents Defending Education and stand with parents around the country.”
Erika Sanzi, Director of Outreach for Parents Defending Education, said: “Former Congresswoman Gabbard has been a surprising and welcome voice in the conversation about what is happening in our children's schools. She has steadfastly refused to join with those who push race essentialism and gender ideology into America's classroom, those who profit off training teachers and students to believe that their immutable traits define them. This ideological capture of K-12 education is poison for all students, and we are so grateful that former Rep. Gabbard has chosen to use her platform to call out those who would seek to indoctrinate rather than educate our children.”
Former Rep. Gabbard said, “Our nation’s future depends on the advocacy of parents for their children. I am honored to amplify the voices of brave parents who overcome fear to represent their children from a place of love. Thank you to Parents Defending Education for making parents everywhere stronger.”
Parents Defending Education is a nonprofit established in March 2021 to empower parents to advocate for their children.
