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1.01.2025
Parent Spotlight: Adriana Morales Lemus
Adriana, thank you for participating today. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
My name is Adriana Lemus, I am 35 years old, and my husband and I are self-employed in maintenance services. I assist him with the administrative side of the business, and I am also a housewife, caring for our three children: two boys, aged ten and one, and a four-year-old girl.
As parents, we decided to pursue a job that would provide us with more flexibility to care for our children. A very bad experience with a daycare facility in the past led us to this decision to take care of them myself.
What led you to join the Nevada Early Childhood Family Leadership Council?
I feel a strong need to advocate for my rights as a mother and for my son's right to receive a quality education. He has attention deficit disorder, and the educational system currently lacks the adequate resources to support children like him.
Can you tell us a little about your journey into parent leadership and advocacy?
My goal is to use my voice to express the needs of parents like me and to help shape the direction of our Latino families, programs, and communities, ensuring we receive the support we require. As parents, we pass on our knowledge, commitment, and values to our children, teaching them that they have the power to change their environment and that their voices matter
What are the benefits of joining a parent group?
One of the benefits is receiving support and feeling connected to a group of like-minded individuals who share similar experiences. Additionally, we gain valuable information that helps nourish our minds.
What advice would you give to other parents or family members that are interested in getting involved in leadership or decision-making roles to support early childhood programs and services?
I encourage parents who wish to learn and become leaders to empower their voices to create positive change for our children. Our children are the future, and that future is in our hands.
Have you experienced any barriers to accessing programs or services for your children?
Yes, it was very difficult to find the right support for my son. I paid for a daycare where he was treated poorly; they didn’t change his diaper on time and didn’t pay attention to him.
Eventually, I applied for Head Start, and the treatment was much better—my son learned English thanks to the wonderful teachers and caregivers he had in pre-kindergarten. However, they identified that my son had a mental health issue, and after discussing it with the pediatrician, he was diagnosed with ADHD.
When he entered kindergarten, it was challenging because the teacher informed me that the school didn’t have the resources to support him and recommended transferring him to another elementary school.
After we moved to Sparks, I discovered that there is a program called IEP, and they began to provide some assistance for my son. However, I still feel he needs more support. He previously had two special education teachers, but now he only has one since the other teacher moved away, which has caused my son a lot of anxiety. He cries and says he doesn’t want to go to school.
What changes do you think need to be made to improve Nevada’s early childhood system?
Definitely, we need more employment opportunities for education professionals, increased availability of free educational centers for early childhood care, and enhanced support for schools that serve children with IEPs. This will ensure they receive more personalized attention and that their individual needs are effectively met.
Have you ever been involved in any advocacy related to children’s issues (working to improve laws or policies)?
I have been attending seminars at the Children's Cabinet as part of a support group for parents, aimed at helping our children and improving early education in schools.
