Julia (Julie) first became engaged in her children’s school when her daughter was in kindergarten. The PTA was looking for help with their website. She had just completed an overhaul of her employer’s website and felt she could contribute her talents. In that she was a full-time working mom and the website could be done outside of school hours, it was a way she could help without being physically present at the school. Through those first years of attending PTA meetings, she felt she was not part of the “in crowd” and was sure other parents felt the same. She was determined to make a difference and make it so that all parents/families felt welcomed at PTA functions.
Eventually she became President of the PTA and at the same time was invited to participate in a program sponsored by the The Prichard Committee for Educational Excellence called The Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership. This program gave her the knowledge and tools to start working even more closely with her children’s schools.
Julie can be often be found on Twitter chats leading discussions on getting more families, guardians, mentors and the community involved in education. Opening doors and changing cement walls to glass walls. She was elected to the Boone County School Board in 2018 and has served as a Parent Ambassador in the Boone County School System. Also in 2018, she was named to the inaugural class of the EdTrust Fund Parent Fellowship class. In 2017, Julie was named the inaugural recipient of the Beverly Nickels Raimondo Kentucky Parent Leadership Award named after the founding of the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership. In 2015 she was recognized as the Bammy Award People’s Choice Parent Leadership recipient. She has served in multiple PTA positions, including Vice President of Communications for the Kentucky State PTA and past President of the recently formed Boone County High School PTSA. Julie was the 2023-24 President of the Rotary Club of Florence and was appointed by unanimous vote to the 2024 Kentucky Board of Education.
Laura is a teacher turned consultant who is on a mission as ParentCamp Vice-President to teach every family-school-community how to come together in joyful connection and collaboration as ONE TEAM, ONE ECOSYSTEM for kids. The big goal is Family-School-Community-Integration and nationwide research about the impact of Family-School-Community Collective Efficacy.
Laura is passionate about teachers and teacher agency. She loves working with them and they love working with her. As CEO of Kid Champions Consulting Laura helps teachers and schools humanize and transform teaching and learning, whether it’s face to face and/or virtual.
Laura taught amazing middle schoolers for 20 years in Lee’s Summit, Park Hill and for most of her career in North Kansas City. Laura was a MO State Teacher of the Year TOY Finalist in 2015 and received the Christa McAuliffe Pioneer in Education Award from the KC Northland Chamber of Commerce the same year. In a quest to explore education ecosystems and follow her heart, Laura hopped over the state line to coach incredible teachers for 3 years in Wyandotte County in USD 202. Additionally, she has been honored to witness and be part of the Kansans Can Redesign Project.
This ParentCamp foundational quote is the basis of Laura’s work. “Everything needed to help kids thrive is already within your family-school-community ecosystem.” Laura is passionate about nurturing, building and tending to “The Ecosystem.” She knows building trust and connections are necessary for human happiness and for future collaboration.
In fact, since 2011 Laura has been doing just that. For three and a half years, Laura organized and held monthly KCEdu meetups with the help of many wonderful teams and partners, bringing KC’s educators, ed organizations and community and industry together for kids. Laura attended and supported educators at over 30 Edcamps and she co-organized multiple Edcamps including EdCampKC at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, one of her most cherished organizing memories.
Laura values curiosity, presence, trust, non-judgment and Walking the Talk. Laura wants every child/learner to have the privilege of feeling seen, heard and valued for the divine soul they are and to wake up surrounded by a deeply connected ecosystem of caring adults through which love, opportunities, resources, information and belonging flow freely to kids.
Laura believes we can transform our family-school-communities for kids from our SCHOOLS, using the Virtual ParentCamp Model and the Family-School-Community Integration System. Laura lives in Kansas City with her husband and their 3 churlish chihuahuas, who miss “the kids.” Rumor is she’s a big KC Chiefs fan.
Emily is a District Continuous Improvement Consultant for the western half of the state of Missouri. She supports teams of teachers and administrators in system-wide best practices to support high levels of achievement for all students.
Prior to her consulting work, she served as an elementary teacher and principal in both public and private schools in Missouri and Kansas. Along with supporting educators’ instructional practices, she is passionate about social-emotional learning and holistic wellness for all members of the school community, and provides yoga and mindfulness workshops for schools and non-profits across the Kansas City area.
Jay is a recently retired 35 year educator, spending the last 20 years as a building administrator. Thirty-two of his thirty-five years in education were dedicated to middle school. Jay connected with Julie Pile on Twitter and Voxer while doing a book study on “Beyond the Bake Sale.” Over the years, Jay stayed connected via Twitter and Voxer and once retired, joined the ParentCamp community.
Kristen is a retired teacher of 21 years. She started her career in 2001 teaching high school English and soon after, discovered a love for Media Arts which led her to the world of Technology. Throughout her career, Kristen had the privilege to work with amazing students, staff, and parents. Luckily, she crossed paths with Julia Pile while teaching her daughter and son. Julia’s passion for parent involvement was contagious. Kristen was encouraged to create family-friendly events that her students led and together, they worked to establish the first Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Team at Camp Ernst Middle School. They collaborated on many projects that improved the culture of the school. Kristen is thrilled to be part of the team. She enjoys the energy and excitement everybody brings.
April is a passionate advocate for empowering families and promoting overall health wellness, is a dynamic newcomer to the education space. With a background rooted in community involvement and a strong desire to encourage and uplift others, she brings a fresh perspective and boundless enthusiasm to her educational endeavors.
As an active participant in various community organizations, April has honed her skills in collaboration, leadership, and outreach, fostering connections with diverse groups and individuals. Her commitment to social causes and her deep-seated belief in the transformative power of Christ, love, and community have driven her to make a positive impact on the lives of those she encounters.
She is on a mission to inspire and motivate others to reach their full potential through education, healthy living, family engagement, and her journey is just beginning. With her unwavering dedication and a heart full of hope, she’s poised to be a catalyst for positive change in her community and beyond.
April joined ParentCamp in the fall of 2023, and most recently, she has completed the Boone County School’s District Ambassador Program.
Maz is a dedicated professional with a passion for education and a proven track record in various roles. With a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Applied Chemistry from Nottingham Trent University, she brings a unique blend of analytical skills and a commitment to excellence. Throughout her career, she has showcased a meticulous attention to detail, organizational prowess, and a knack for prioritizing tasks independently. With a diverse background spanning roles in social care and community services, Maz is a skilled communicator with a talent for working under pressure and meeting deadlines.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Maz is deeply committed to community service, particularly with her children’s school. Currently, she serves on the PTO for Las Americas ASPIRA Academy as well as focusing her volunteer efforts at the school library, fostering her love for reading and learning among students. Her involvement extends beyond the library as Maz actively participates in various school projects, such as celebrating diverse cultures and festivals. She brings enthusiasm and creativity to these initiatives, contributing to a vibrant, inclusive school community.
Maz’s core competencies, ranging from accuracy and organization to strong teamwork and communication skills, make her a valuable asset to any educational setting. Her commitment to continuous learning and her ability to adapt to diverse environments position her as a dynamic professional ready to contribute to the field of education.
Sophia (Sophie) is a student at the University of Kentucky and is majoring in Psychology. She plans to become an Industrial/ Organizational Psychologist when she graduates in 2025. She joined ParentCamp to become a connector of people/curator of resources for families and educators. One of Sophie’s many traits is being personable and able to communicate with others, so joining as a connector for ParentCamp was fitting considering we are all about connecting the family-school-community ecosystem. And yes, she is the daughter of ParentCamp co-founder Julie Pile, so the apple is not falling far from the tree.
Will is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated producer. He began his career as a producer in newsrooms across Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio, most notably WTHR-NBC, before becoming the education producer at WFYI-PBS in Indianapolis. While there, Will created a number of education-focused stories, including for The United Way of Central Indiana, the PBS American Graduate Initiative, and local science program Indiana Expeditions. He also produced a documentary, Little Children, Big Returns, which explored the business case for proper funding of pre-K education in Indiana and the major financial impact it could have on the state’s economy. The documentary won First Place Documentary or Special from the Indiana Chapter of The Society of Professional Journalists and was nominated for an Emmy in the Public/Current/Community Affairs category of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Lower Great Lakes Chapter.
Will enjoys discovering and sharing unique, impactful stories. He is a sought-after video producer and writer. His personal mission is to provide top-notch visual storytelling to his clients, focusing on smaller organizations that may not otherwise have the opportunity for professional video services. In addition to his highly acclaimed video talents, Will is also a skilled writer, project manager, and photographer.
Will joined ParentCamp in the fall of 2023. He is also a One-to-One Reading Mentor with the Northern Kentucky Education Council, the Communications Officer for the Erpenbeck Elementary PTSO, and a member of the boards of the Rotary Club of Florence and FIESTA, a grassroots non-profit focused on providing assistance to the Hispanic community in Northern Kentucky.