About
Celebrate PEN’s achievements in our 2023-2024 Year In Review.
View PEN’s 10th Anniversary Video to find out the impact we’ve had on families and schools.
PEN is a unique organization that was founded by parents, for parents, in 2006. The founding parents’ mission was, and still is, to promote family involvement in public education in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) so all children benefit. Now, we’re a network of more than 2,000 parents who support and send our children to Pasadena Unified School District Schools. Join us!
Mission
PEN is an independent grass-roots nonprofit organization that promotes family participation in public education to benefit all students in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre. PEN provides parent education programs and services to help parents explore, evaluate, and engage with their public schools as well as representing a collective voice for parents with the Pasadena Unified School District.
Check out our Program Strategic Plan. It’s not a traditional plan, as it visually depicts our objective to take parents from thinking only about their individual interests (“My Family”) to thinking about the common good (“Our PUSD”), and what is in the best interest of all of our children.
Focus
PEN provides parents with the information they need to find the best schools for their family, connects parents with each other and their schools, and represents parents in PUSD decision-making. Because of PEN, parents are more engaged and schools throughout the district have improved and continue to make gains.
Beliefs
Full family and community participation is critical to strong public schools.
Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre need strong public schools that serve all children in order to be a strong community.
All children benefit from an education that is culturally, socio-economically, and racially diverse.
Families need easy access to credible information about public schools from a trusted source so that they can make informed decisions about their children’s education.
Parent engagement and involvement are critical components for academic success for all students.
By creating a sustainable network of parent leaders from all backgrounds, academic improvements can be implemented now and for generations to come.
We’re committed to providing parents with the tools and skills that they need to not only serve their individual interests, but to serve the common good of all students.
Programs and Services
PEN is an organization that connects families with information, with schools and the district, and with each other. Our programs and services include:
Parent education programs for families transitioning to kindergarten
Parent education programs for families transitioning to secondary school
Trainings to help parents become effective partners with their schools and the district
Advocating for parent engagement in the Pasadena Unified School District
Empowering parents to advocate for their student and all students
Weekly e-newsletter
School Fact Sheets and other resource information important to parents
Parent Ambassadors to connect parents with one another
Networking opportunities
School Tours
Collaborate with Pasadena Unified School District to represent a parent voice
Results
Our member survey results show the positive impact that PEN has:
98% gained a better understanding of public schools because of PEN
94% improved their perception of PUSD schools
92% said that PEN’s parent education programs met or exceeded their expectations
PEN members have a significantly higher rate of volunteerism at their schools. Where district-wide PTA membership is 28% of the student population, 88% of PEN members are involved with their PTA and 75% volunteer in other ways at their schools.
Nearly 100% said they would recommend PEN to other families, or already had.
