Glenbard News Spotlight: Glenbard’s Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee

At Glenbard District 87, family engagement is at the heart of student success. For more than 12 years, the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (B-PAC) has served as a vital resource for multilingual families, offering support, guidance, and community connections that empower parents to help their students thrive.

“B-PAC means Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee,” explained Luz Luna, B-PAC Coordinator. “In this program, we seek to attract and involve Hispanic families who belong to the Glenbard schools community. We educate parents in the education process of their children. We provide them with resources necessary for their students’ academic success and we provide them with programs.”

B-PAC provides programs in multiple languages, including Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, and Gujarati, ensuring families across the district feel included and supported.

Family engagement is directly linked to student achievement, and B-PAC ensures that multilingual families have both a voice and a place in Glenbard’s schools.

“We want our families to be involved in our schools,” said Luna. “We have a group of parents that represent each of our schools — Glenbard North, South, East, and West. We meet six times a year in person. We focus on having them present in our seminars and being the parent voice.”

Jennifer Buck-Castaneda, EL coordinator and EL English teacher, echoed that sentiment.

“As a classroom teacher, I know the importance of family involvement in education. When parents and guardians are involved, students are more successful. For our multilingual families, it is even more important to show them that they have a voice in our district. That their opinion matters, and that they can and should advocate for their children.”

Some Glenbard families are new to the U.S. education system. B-PAC helps them navigate everything from daily classroom expectations to long-term college and career planning. “For us to be able to invite them into the schools, provide them with programs on how to help their students and families be happier, healthier, and successful is a real privilege,” Buck-Castaneda added.

Throughout the school year, B-PAC hosts multiple seminars on topics that are critical for families. These include:

• Information on free and reduced lunch, fee waivers, and financial aid
• College preparation, including how to apply for admission and scholarships
• Guidance from school counselors on academic planning
• Workshops in collaboration with the GPS Parent Series on building healthy family relationships

After every seminar, whether in-person or virtual, parents express gratitude for the information and resources. “We hear from multiple families on how appreciative they are,” Buck-Castaneda said.

The positive impact of B-PAC is felt not only within Glenbard but also beyond. The program’s coordinators are proud to share their work with other districts interested in building similar supports for multilingual families.

The next B-PAC seminar will be held October 16 (virtual) and will focus on applying for college, securing financial aid, and navigating the FAFSA application process. Families will receive step-by-step guidance and access to valuable resources to support their students’ future success.