Mount Hebron High School parent Larry Walker, 50, was the winner of the first statewide Comcast Parent Involvement Matters Awards. He received a $1,000 prize for a nonprofit of his choice and a chair, symbolizing “a seat at the table of education.” The Ellicott City resident is a full-time staff pastor at Celebration Church in Columbia and married to Stevens Forest Elementary School teacher Alfreda Walker. Their sons Lawrence and Brandon are graduating this year ? Lawrence from the University of Maryland, College Park, and Brandon from Mount Hebron. He is the outgoing president of Parents of African American Students at Hebron, co-chairman of the county budget review committee and a Community Advisory Council member.
What makes a successful parent?
It?s a person who?s involved in the life of their child to the extent the child is very comfortable with who they are. All children are different. A successful parent will help them develop their own uniqueness.
What should a parent?s role be in their child?s education?
Parents have the primary responsibility and not teachers and the school system. A parent is going to know their child best and their learning styles, shortcomings and areas of anxiety.
Are parents recognized as much as teachers for the work they do in improving student performance?
This is the first award of its kind. … But I?m involved because it?s the right thing to do. … I think teachers are underappreciated.
Many support a new Mount Hebron school, but others favor a renovation. What?s your take?
I think we came up with a tremendous solution [the $57.3 million renovation project]. It provided for the needs articulated by the community.
