Berea, KY - As the father of five children, Stephen Davis has a tremendous investment in the Rockcastle County School System.  Recently that investment gained interest. Davis was awarded the Parent Leadership National Award by the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP).  One of only five recipients, Davis traveled to San Francisco in July to participate in a parent leadership conference with over 30 specially selected parents from across the country. 

Nominated by the Berea College GEAR UP Partnership program at Rockcastle County Middle School for the award, Davis participates on the planning team for the program assisting educational and college planning needs of students in grades 6-9 at Rockcastle County Middle and High School.

“Working with GEAR UP at the local level with Rockcastle County and Berea College has been an eye-opening experience,” says Davis. “ It is nice to realize that parents can be involved in a program so global in nature that has such a lasting impact on our children finishing high school and going on to college.”

“Decisions we help make in this program today can change the course for our children tomorrow.”

Davis, a church administrator and accountant at Church on the Rock has been involved with the GEAR UP program in Rockcastle County since 2005. 

Davis has continued his work with the parent leadership committee since July by starting an email correspondence group of those attending. Davis states “we stay in touch on issues from around the nation by email regarding NCCEP and GEAR UP goals and issues.” 

Davis also recently presented with Michelle Scarberry, Berea College GEAR UP Parent Engagement Coordinator, and Peggy Shearer, Principal Wayne County High School on the value of parent involvement at the “College 101: A Day on College Access in Appalachia” workshop for regional educators.

RCMS GEAR UP Career Counselor Nancy Hale says she would like to see more parents like Davis become involved in helping students realize higher education is their path to the future and caring adults are willing to help them get there.