The Pasadena Education Network (PEN) celebrated its 10th Anniversary on Sunday, April 10, at Claud Beltran’s Bacchus’ Kitchen. The event included a wine tasting, craft spirits tasting sponsored by Pasadena’s micro distillery Stark Spirits, Beltran’s eclectic appetizers, and desserts from Nothing Bundt Cake. Live music, a silent auction, and a recognition event topped off the celebration.
PEN is a network of more than 1,000 parents who support and send their children to Pasadena Unified School District schools. The grassroots nonprofit, which was founded in 2006 by a group of preschool parents, promotes family participation in public education in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre. The PEN Founding Families will be recognized for their vision and commitment to providing parents with the knowledge, skills, and resources that they need to become engaged parents in our community’s public schools. Additionally, PEN recognized three outstanding volunteers who represent the type of involvement for which they advocate.
Richard Webster is co-President and a board member of the Helen and Will Webster Foundation. The Foundation primarily supports initiatives that help young people, with an emphasis on funding educational and children’s health issues. Richard has been actively engaged with PUSD both as a parent and as a supporter of many academic programs that have improved student learning in PUSD. He and his wife Kim Kenne, who is the Vice President of the PUSD Board of Education, believed in PEN’s mission from the beginning, and have remained actively involved with PEN during its 10 year history.
Kitty Cahalan is currently the President of the Pasadena Unified School District PTA Council. During her tenure, PTA membership increased while other districts declined. This lead to the Council receiving the First District PTA Renaissance Award. Previously, Kitty was a Vice President and Auditor for the PTA Council and held numerous positions on the Longfellow Elementary PTA. Additionally, she has been an active classroom volunteer, supporting science activities and events. For her next gig, Kitty will be the PTA Membership Chair for Blair International Baccalaureate School.
Monica Obregon is the President of John Muir High School’s PTSA, a position she has held for the past two years. Monica revived Muir’s PTSA, increasing membership from four parents to more than 100. She actively supports the school’s academic academies, participates in parent and student orientations, and has built bridges with the surrounding community. Under her leadership, the PTSA has initiated a School Beautification Day, Honor Roll dinner, a monthly teacher breakfast, and more. She is a role model for how parents can support all students at their schools.
PEN’s Founding Families are Kristin Maschka & David Hitchcock, Maggie & Chris Brandow, Jackie Clem & Chris Whiting, Brence Culp & Mark Goodstein, Haley & Marc Karish, Julie & Tod Cole, Christine & Larry O’Brien, Julie & John Root, Jennifer McCreight, Kim Kenne, and Dhari Thein.
PEN is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes family participation in public education to benefit all students. PEN provides services to help parents explore and evaluate their public school options as well as become volunteer leaders in their schools and in the district.
For more information contact PEN at (866) 216-7334 or www.penfamilies.org.
