A local Cochrane parent is being recognized provincially, for her longtime involvement within the school community.

Kari Rose is an active School Council volunteer, who was recently honoured with a 2021 Parent of Distinction Award from the Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA).

The mother of three now, high school students has always been actively involved in parent council; sometimes more than one at a time.

"I have been involved in School Council since my kids started public school, " says Rose. My oldest is graduating this year, so for 12 years. Sometimes holding positions on more than one board at a time, depending on which schools my kids were in, in Cochrane."

Now, with all three kids attending Bow Valley High School, Rose's School Council duties fall under one roof, where she sits as Chair of the committee.

She was nominated by peers on the committee and was surprised with the award at a recent council meeting.

"I was completely flabbergasted and blown away when we had our last council meeting," says Rose. "There was a guest speaker from the Alberta School Councils' Association there to present me with this awesome award!"

In addition to being a busy mother and active member of the School Council, Rose is an entrepreneur, who runs "Kari Rose Health" out of Cochrane.

She encourages other parents to find ways to get involved in their kids' school communities.

"I understand that life is busy but I really encourage parents -- this is the way to be able to have those connections and relationships with the people that your kids are spending the most time with during the day," says Rose. "We assume that when they get to high school that they don't need us anymore or they don't want us to be involved, and that's the furthest from the truth."

The Parent of Distinction Award recognizes dedicated leaders that demonstrate the ability to promote parental involvement within the public education system.