By Mario A. Cortez
What started out as two community leaders tackling low academic performance at Sherman Elementary here in San Diego has evolved into a statewide program that has fostered student success and engaged parents in the education of their children.
This Friday, Dec. 1, the Parent Institute for Quality Education, known as PIQE, will celebrate 30 years of family empowerment and student achievement with a special ceremony at Sherman Elementary.
PIQE began in October of 1987 after Alberto Ochoa and Vahac Mardirosian began to feel concern over low academic performance among San Diego’s Latino students, especially those at Sherman Elementary.