"Your standard of excellence starts with you," is the belief of parent advocate and Newark native Yaminah Spotswood. The mother of four is a firm believer "environment impacts child education and the fortified or lack of parental involvement makes a difference." Her developmental path is rooted in her childhood and blossomed at 13th Avenue School.

Spotswood recalls "it made a huge difference the way my mom was always there growing up." It established standards and accountability she wanted to emulate. Her first real taste of advocacy though has dark roots. Living in Puerto Rico with her then-boyfriend, she said she found "the nondisclosure with what was going on with the school difficult." She couldn't get any answers about her children's education.

Having two children at the time, Spotswood decided to pull her second and fourth graders out of school. She then began what she describes as "the scary process of homeschooling." She researched on line to develop the proper curriculum as well as joined on line support groups.

Puerto Rico was also a time of isolation and relationship abuse. One night, she made the bold decision to leave and return to Newark. Back home she was homeless and jobless. The timing coincided with the end of the school year. For the next three months she lived in a shelter with her two children. It was there she made the decision she recalled to "not be trapped in shame and focus on a clean slate and a new start." With minimal assistance to help navigate the system, Spotswood was able to procure public housing and put herself in position for schooling and employment.

That was during summer 2005. Now, having a fourth and a six grader she took all her homeschooling records and brought them to 13th Avenue School where they would attend in the fall. There, she describes she "felt embraced by the school." 

Spotswood started volunteering with the school's clothing bank. Then she recalls she "was on a mission to change it and made it into a boutique." She transformed the store not only into a clothing bank but as a reward destination where students could spend earned "school dollars."

It was also during this time Spotswood noticed a lack of parental involvement. She started a parent advocacy group with two mothers. Their symbol was the butterfly and their mission was "to stay positive and be an example." In a couple of months, the group grew to 22 moms. 

Her consistent involvement and parental recruitment efforts led to applying and being accepted as the Parent Coordinator for Penn Newark in November 2010. There, she said her role consisted of "knowing the blueprint of our education system and navigating it." She wanted to share with parents "if they came out a little more and showed up, they could ask teachers and administrators to show their accountability."

Her successes with 13th Avenue School and Penn Newark enrich her current position as director of Community Relations for the Center of Collaborative Change. She previously attended University of Phoenix. Through marriage, she has added a daughter to her family and, four years ago, had a son. As a dancer and choreographer, she uses her talents teaching youth. She is also the vice chair for FP Youth Outcry, an organization that focuses on empowering youth.

Spotswood describes her journey best: "I've progressively grown wearing multiple hats and it all started off with being a parent."