DALLAS— Kathryn Trennell is like most parents—she wants her children to be successful, to have more options in life than she had. Trennell is passionate about doing all she can to help her kids. “They’re my life,” the single-mother of two said. She’s determined to ensure that her children grow up to be their best.
“In school, I struggled with a lot of things, but my mom didn’t know how to help me,” said Trennell. “My mom only had a sixth grade education. She didn’t know how to help me and she couldn’t afford tutors. But I know I want different for my kids.”
Trennell admits her life hasn’t been easy. She got married and dropped out of college to begin her family. But despite not finishing school, she’s managed to grow her business as a home daycare owner and become a real estate agent. “I want my [kids] to have an example, to know that whatever they want for themselves, they can do and have if they work hard enough.”
Her children’s success is a testament to her dedication. Her oldest child, Steve, a 22-year-old Naval officer stationed in Japan, struggled in school, but worked hard to graduate and still plans to attend college after military service. Kayla, an eighth grader at Billy Earl Dade Middle School, is a cheerleader, and a member of student council, in the school’s Leadership Cadet Corps, and the volleyball team. She’s also quick to predict she will one day be a student at Spelman College in Atlanta, where she plans to study psychology.
Despite Kayla’s impressive resume, Trennell says, like most kids, she requires guidance. “I’ve tried to help [my kids] establish habits of taking care of business, habits that start in school and become life habits,” said Trennell.
Trennell also credits the support of Dade’s staff for her daughter’s success. She recently joined the school’s Site Based Decision Making Team and has been impressed with the growth of parent involvement. “It was just so exciting to see so many parents getting involved and interested in what’s going on at the school, to know there are other parents there, trying to come together to make things better for these kids, just like I wanted for mine.”
