October 15, 2025, Buena families received the monthly Buena Update flyer in their emails, outfitted with all of the usual announcements, but this one had a new addition called the Parent Project. A project that aims to “empower parents” and “transform teens,” this could be a game changer in the lives of many Buena families.
The Parent Project started over 35 years ago, with a common goal to help families who are dealing with troubled or misbehaved kids in a healthy and research-based way. Their mission is to “develop parent-training programs” and they are “committed to providing highly effective programs that are affordable for every parent.”
Principal of Buena High School, Dr. Audrey Asplund, decided she wanted to incorporate this program into the school last year when the assistant principals of VUSD schools were assigned to a training program that taught them how to teach the Parent Project. It wasn’t until this year that they got dates and training sessions set in stone.
“[We] brought it up last year, started planning, picking the dates, and then we started advertising it,” Asplund said.
“There is no manual on how to raise kids, and sometimes there’s a disconnect between what happens at home and what happens at school, and this is just a resource for parents,” assistant principal Tina Perez said.
Perez teaches the course along with additional administrative support in the College Career Center. Out of the three courses the Parent Project offers, Buena provides the “Changing Destructive Adolescent Behavior” program, which focuses on teens and the transitions of high school.
“Sometimes there’s kids that have problems outside of school where their parents are involved, and they end up having to take mandated classes… This gives them a more local… and more affordable option,” Perez said.
With three classes already gone by, the attendance has been lower than the staff had hoped. However, there is optimism that after the first quarter, more families may join the program.
“People can always start now,” Perez said. “We have the flexibility to start the course over again.”
This is a ten-week program with one session per week. Buena offers childcare and dinner at these meetings, so that families can fully learn and have the resources to focus on the class.
Perez also noted that the Parent Project is a “project,” and not a “one and done” situation. She stressed that the families will work together to find solutions no matter what the issues are.
If you or anyone you know wants to attend, try out the next session at the college and career room on November 12th.
“It’s not a punishment, as a parent, if you have found yourself at a loss. It is just a resource,” Perez said. “I want kids and parents to know that if you would like to change the way that you communicate with your parents, have your parents come to this class because it might open their eyes [show them] how students want to be heard.”
