Palatine Resident to Return to Parenting Magazine's Mom Congress

Parenting Magazine has asked Palatine resident Jennifer DeFranco to participate in the magazine's Mom Congress on Education and Learning at Georgetown University in Washington, D. C.

The congress will include representatives from all 50 states  and the District of Columbia. The congress will last from April 10 through April 13. Kimberly Kuhlman of Inverness is the Illinois delegate, DeFranco is being asked to return to the conference as a mentor to other delegates.

"I was beyond words when I was asked to come back," DeFranco stated in a press release. "Being asked to serve as a panelist for the delegation in attendance for 2011 is certainly going to be a highlight of this year's experience for me."

As a mentor, DeFranco will lead breakout sessions at the conference and facilitate discussions on education issues. She also will serve as a panelist on the issue of Bullying Prevention.

Last year DeFranco was chosen to attend the conference because of her contributions and dedication to improving local schools, the press release states. DeFranco secured a proclamation the governor of Illinois in 2008 proclaiming October to be Bullying Prevention Awareness Month.

State Senator Matt Murpy and the Illinois Senate recognized DeFranco's efforts to prevent bullying in local schools.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will headline the conference. Duncan will speak to attendees on April 12 about the crucial role parents play in education. Also appearing at the congress will be First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campagin, StudentsFirst.org, Reach Out and Read, the National PTA, National Education Association, Headstart, PBS and NBC Learn.