The Friend of Children award was created in 1992 to recognize outstanding volunteers in the communities represented by the districts within the NCESD’s four-county region. Recipients of the award make extraordinary contributions to local schools, not for fame or notoriety, but because that is simply who they are as a community member.
Carmen Rios, was nominated and selected this year. She has been our Parent Advisory Council (PAC) president since 2023, has dedicated countless volunteer hours to serving as a sounding board and guiding our council. A working mother of three—Erick Sanchez-Rios (9th grade), Evelyn Sanchez (4th grade), and Edwin Sanchez-Rios (Kindergarten)—Carmen has played a vital leadership role within our officer group for the past two years, following her previous service as a parent representative. Beyond her contributions to the PAC, she has been a dedicated volunteer in the community, teaching religious education classes at Sacred Heart Catholic Church for over nine years. Teachers and staff know Carmen as a take-charge parent who is always willing to volunteer both in and out of the classroom, readily adjusting her schedule to support school needs. Her dedication to her children’s academics and extracurricular activities is reflected in their success.
We are incredibly grateful for Carmen’s commitment, leadership, and generosity. Her contributions make a lasting impact on our school and community, and we deeply appreciate everything she does. Carmen is deserving of the Friends of Children Award.
