About TPTC
Our Story
Born from a lifelong passion for education, The Parent Teacher Collaborative is more than just an organization – it's a movement. Our founder, Dr. Jessica Carter, spent decades in the trenches of schools, witnessing the transformative power of parent-teacher partnerships firsthand.
As an educator, she saw how inviting families into the classroom could ignite student potential, strengthen family partnerships, and produce environments where learners can thrive. As an administrator, she also saw the flipside, students of families who were disconnected and disenfranchised by school were massively disadvantaged.
Returning to the classroom in 2019, Dr. Carter refused to accept the status quo of division. Amidst the challenges of virtual learning during COVID, she seized the opportunity to forge deeper connections with families – and a spark caught fire. Parents were eager to engage, to advocate, to be the change their children needed.
Through this experience, the vision for The Parent Teacher Collaborative crystallized.
What if all of the adults connected to a child’s learning – families, educators, administrators, and community members – could unite around their common purpose?
What if, instead of working at odds, they could harness their collective power to champion student needs?
Fueled by this dream, Dr. Carter began working hand-in-hand with parent and community groups in 2021 where their grassroot advocacy began to create spaces where all voices could be heard and all hands could join in the vital work of uplifting students. Utilizing these new strategies, single site school workshops were launched in 2022.
Following the success of these pilots, TPTC officially launched in 2023 – not just as an organization, but as a catalyst. Today, we're sparking the conversations, providing the training and advocacy tools, and amplifying the voices that will redefine family engagement in education. We're building bridges of trust, empowering communities to lock arms and co-create a future where every student can soar.
This is more than our story. This is a rallying cry, a call to action, a beacon in the night. Join us, and let's illuminate the path forward – together.
Our Mission
The Parent Teacher Collaborative is a school and community-based organization that aims to improve student outcomes by building strong collaborative partnerships between parents, educators, and community members.
Our Vision
The Parent Teacher Collaborative will be the model for effective parent, educator, and community engagement in schools- empowering families and educators to work together for student success.
Our Agenda
The Parent Teacher Collaborative organizes around core beliefs aligned to school district priorities - that all students and educators deserve:
Supported Educators
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Access to skilled mentors, mental health resources and professional development
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Collaboration with parents as partners in student success
Engaging Enrichment
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In- and out-of-school academic programming
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Exposure to careers and real-world experiences
Welcoming
Environments
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Accessible and inviting schools and district offices
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Educators who are supportive, caring, and responsive to community needs
Special Education Supports
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Training and resources for educators who support special populations
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Inclusion and personalized learning for special populations
Equitable Access
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Adequate funding and staffing for high-need schools
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Resources to create opportunities for post-secondary success
Guided by this agenda, we partner with districts and communities to uplift schools through family-educator advocacy and organizing efforts that center shared priorities around student nurturing and empowerment.
Meet Our Founder
Jessica Faith Carter, Ph.D.
Dr. Jessica Faith Carter is a native Houstonian and career educator who has served as a K-12 teacher, campus leader, university instructor, and consultant. She is the Founder and Executive Director of The Parent Teacher Collaborative, a school and community-based organization that aims to improve student outcomes by building strong collaborative partnerships between parents and teachers. Additionally, she is the Founder and Principal Strategist at J.F. Carter Solutions, an educational consultancy that supports parents, schools, districts, and community organizations in their efforts to achieve exceptional outcomes for students.
Dr. Carter holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rice University, graduate degrees in education from Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, and Harvard University. She earned a Ph.D. in Special Education from The University of Texas at Austin, and she holds an MBA from Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business. In her spare time, Dr. Carter enjoys traveling, cooking, building Lego sets, and volunteering with youth and community-focused organizations.
Meet Our Team
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Meet Our Board
A Word from Our Board
Our Values
Collaboration - Working together in meaningful ways is the cornerstone of any successful team. By leaning into the benefits of our diverse perspectives, we can harness our collective wisdom to engage in unified efforts that allow us to achieve our common goals.
Community - Actively engaging with and listening to the community is at the heart of our work. By valuing community insights, needs, and aspirations, we are able to collaboratively shape positive change and meaningful impact.
Civic Engagement - People have the power to create the world in which they want to live in, and contributing to the community is an essential pillar of democracy. We promote informed discourse around community needs and collective action to shape a better society for all.
Care - We prioritize empathy, compassion, and respect in our interactions, decisions, and endeavors, fostering an inclusive and equitable culture of kindness and support.
Continuous Improvement - Constantly seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and innovate, we strive for excellence in all that we do.
Our Partners & Supporters
