Parent Advocate Regina Davis Responds to Florida’s Mask Mandate

South Florida weather proved to be a scorcher for the opening of the 2021-2022 academic school year for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS). The fourth largest school district with more than 330,000 students enrolled annually, would traditionally be bombarded with issues like bus routes, class schedules, underpaid teachers, and cafeteria glitches. However, the global pandemic welcomed a new found opening of schools factor, the infamous COVID-19 mask.

Although Florida Governor signed the Executive Order , Ensuring Parents Freedom to Choose-Masks in Schools, which enforces the power of choice with parents as it relates to wearing masks during school hours, community leaders of parent groups like Regina Davis issued a community executive order recommendation of her own.

In an interview with CWCNews Davis was quoted as saying, “I am the Black Community Superintendent, and when I ask parents to move, they move. So when I say mask-up, they mask up.”

Davis, a long-time parental involvement community activist mentioned that she was recently honored during the 2021-2022 Opening of Schools Session by M-DCPS Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho. “I saw my picture on the screen and then I heard a roaring round of applause when the superintendent called my name. I felt like a celebrity, and I was honored for the recognition! But, I am not here for the notoriety, I am here for the parents in the community. I was recognized for empowering parents while holding the school district and elected officials accountable for the safety of our children, their employees, and our parents in the schools .” said Davis.

Davis, a retired Licensed practical nurse (LPN), that currently serves as the M-DCPS Community and Parent Advocate and Parent Coordinator for the It’s On Us Parent (IOU) Initiative that was developed from the 2012 Florida Department of Children & Families Breaking The Cycle Initiative , and managed by The Urban League of Greater Miami, Inc. IOU is a parental involvement and training program with more than fifteen hundred active parents, caregivers, and concerned citizens of the inner city community serving as parent advocates for the voiceless, and uninformed. “I give each parent sector an authoritative title in our over 1000 member organization, so they can have some sense of ownership, while I strategically empower them.” said Davis.

While community leaders and parent groups are encouraging clients and residents to take advantage of free testing and free vaccination sites, Davis is more concerned with educating parents as to why it is important wear a mask, and to send their children to schools with masks or face coverings. Davis discussed Miami-Dade County Public Schools Back to Schools Safety Protocols Video, that gives parents information about what to expect when their youth return to school. “I believe that an informed parent is an active advocate for their children. It is our right to have a choice when it concerns are children individually, but it is also our right to work together collectively to save our communities through, education, health and wellness with community preservation.” said Davis.

To donate or become an IOU volunteer in the Miami-Dade county communities contact Regina Davis at davis_regina@bellsouth.net