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Lamar County Schools

Parents As Teachers (PAT)

 

Parents as Teachers

 

Parents as Teachers is a free, voluntary early childhood program serving Lamar County families from the prenatal stage to age five. This program partners families with a certified parent educator to support and empower families to guide their child’s language, intellectual, social, and physical development through everyday teachable moments.

📌 Why become a PAT family?

 

As a Parents as Teachers family, you receive…

 

  • Personal visits – during which your parent educator will share age-appropriate child development and parenting information, help you learn to observe your child, and address your parenting concerns.
  • Parent group meetings – which are opportunities to share information about parenting issues and child development. Parents learn and support each other, observe their children with other children, and practice parenting skills.
  • Screenings – to assess your child’s language development, intellectual growth, social development, and motor skills. Milestones are monitored to identify any potential concern before it becomes an obstacle to your child’s development.
  • Resource Network – linking your family to other community services
  • Parent Resource Center – access to educational materials, such as toys, books, and manipulatives to use at home.

 

Submit an Interest Form Today!

 

💫 Partner with Parents as Teachers to support your child’s early development.

Parents As Teachers logo featuring a parent figure embracing a child.

  • Pre-K student completing an activity outside
  • Two young students holding up the book they just got from the ELC
  • Pre-K student completing an activity outside
  • Two students holding up the book they just got from the ELC
  • Family of 4 holding up their book they just got from the ELC

Certified Parent Educator Team

Select a team member below for full bio.

  • April Burnside serves as the Coordinator for the Parents as Teachers program and is a Certified Parent Educator. Driven by a lifelong love for early childhood development, April earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is especially passionate about advocating for pregnant teens within the school system, connecting them to vital resources and qualifying programs that support both their educational goals and parenting journeys. Deeply committed to fostering a love for reading in children and building meaningful, lasting relationships with families, April has been a proud member of the Parents as Teachers team since 2008.

  • Leah Thaggard is a Certified Parent Educator who brings more than 25 years of experience to her role in supporting children and families. A former elementary school teacher and a past Mississippi VFW Teacher of the Year, Leah beautifully channels her love of storytelling and education into equipping parents to champion their child's learning and growth. Beyond her work in early childhood education, she is a longtime swim instructor and water safety business owner. Deeply committed to building strong, collaborative partnerships with families, Leah joined the Parents as Teachers team in 2022 to help ensure every child has the foundation to succeed.

  • Sheri Engle is a Certified Parent Educator and a longtime resident of Purvis, where she raised her two sons, Adam and Abram. Sheri earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi, and her extensive background includes more than a decade of experience teaching preschool. This unique combination of academic insight and hands-on classroom experience provides her with a diverse skill set perfectly suited for supporting children and families in a home-visitation setting. Sheri joined the Parents as Teachers team in 2021, bringing a deep commitment to helping local families thrive.

  • Shannon Smith serves as the Administrative Assistant for Parents as Teachers, bringing over 23 years of invaluable school-system experience to the team. Shannon infuses the program with a distinct flair for detail, exceptional organizational skills, and an unparalleled love for families. Her dedicated work behind the scenes ensures the office runs seamlessly and every community event goes smoothly. Since joining Parents as Teachers in 2024, Shannon has been the organizational backbone that helps the entire program thrive.

Helpful Resources

 

Young Parents as Teachers

 

Parents as Teachers empowers pregnant and parenting teens in Lamar County to navigate their unique challenges. Dedicated parent educators help young parents stay in school, connect with vital childcare resources, and learn early childhood best practices. Through this support, PAT aims to prevent high school dropout, increase children’s school readiness, and foster strong, loving bonds between parents and their babies.

📍 Resources Available in Lamar County

  • Child Support Case – 5 Willow Bend Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39402

    1-877-882-4916

  • Mississippi: Financial Assistance Resources for Families

    Find out more @ Childcare.gov

  • Medicaid - Medical Assistance

    6971 Lincoln Rd Ex.
    Hattiesburg, MS 39402

    601-264-5386 / Fax 601-261-1244

    Serves Forrest, Lamar, and Perry counties.

  • Find out more @ https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/

  • MS Child Care Payment Program 

    Federal program to help qualifying parents with childcare tuition.  

    1-800-877-7882

  • SNAP - Food Stamps

    Lamar County Health Department

    207 Main St.
    Purvis, MS 39475

    (601) 794-1050

  • TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

    Provides assistance for families who do not have enough income or resources to meet everyday needs.  

    (601) 794-1050

  • WIC - Supplemental Nutrition Program for women, infants, and children

    Lamar County Health Department

    207 Main St.
    Purvis, MS 39475

    601-794-1055

    WIC Distribution Site - 47 Deep South Lane, Purvis, MS  39475  (601) 794-6294

 

Have questions or need more information?

Contact the Parents as Teachers Team @ (601) 794.5982

 

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