You’re not alone. That’s the promise these five parent leaders kept to the 2,000 others who attended the UFT parent conferences this fall in each of the five boroughs. They helped get the word out, chose workshop topics and facilitators, and made sure every parent felt welcome, wanted and essential to the success of all New York City public schoolchildren.

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Jonathan Fickies

I knew this year’s Staten Island conference was a success because so many parents came, and from every part of the island. The Staten Island Federation of PTAs is responsible for all the PTAs so we visited schools and attended meetings to get the word out.

Once again, we gave out a survey asking parents what topics they wanted covered in the workshops. That reinforced the idea that the conference was for them. It wasn’t just us in a little room making all the decisions. For example, there was so much anxiety and confusion around Common Core. You saw it on everyone’s face. But when it was explained, you saw parents — and teachers — relax.

I was a co-facilitator for a Spanish workshop. Hearing information about Common Core in their native language made parents feel comfortable. They weren’t afraid to ask questions because someone was paying attention to them and taking the time to help them understand what their kids are doing in class.

Many of the parents who attended this year’s conference wanted to know how they could get involved. Parents work hard; they have one, sometimes two jobs. Still, they want to do right by their kids. These conferences help them do that. That’s why they’re held on Saturdays. That gives more parents a chance to come.

I attended my first conference two years ago. I was a New York City police officer, but I was forced to retire due to lung problems from 9/11. Now, helping to organize, plan and promote the conferences is my job. I don’t get paid for this job. But I’ve got three kids in high school, one of them a special education student. I figure I’m helping my kids, and the kids of parents who want to be more involved but can’t.

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Jonathan Fickies

It’s called a conference, but it’s more like a retreat, a place where parents and teachers come together to talk and listen in an unhurried, unstressed environment. It was an opportunity to see that teachers are trying to partner with parents and parents with teachers. We have so much more to gain when we cooperate and communicate.

We had more than 400 people at this year’s conference. Every single chair was filled, which shows how much parents want and need to understand what their kids are learning in school all day. They want to be advocates for them.

The workshops were fantastic. Parents learned, “I can go sit with the principal and not be intimidated, I can talk to a teacher without getting confrontational.” Parents liked having new information and materials that they could then take back to their PTAs and local schools. They radiated empowerment!

I was all prepared to facilitate a workshop on PTAs, what they do, how to join. But I had to take over the distribution of the meals and buffets. It needed to run seamlessly, and it did. You can’t expect people to listen and learn when they’re thinking about food.

I initially got involved when my daughter, who is 11 years old now, went to school. I’m a product of the public schools, but I realized that so much had changed and I knew nothing about today’s schools. So I decided, “Let me hear, let me see, let me understand how to navigate this huge and complex system.”

I’m still learning. I want to help other parents do the same. We are all stakeholders in this endeavor called education. These conferences remind us of that very important fact.

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Pat Arnow

I hold no special position or power. But I do have a brain and a mouth — sometimes it gets me into trouble — but that’s OK because I’m a fighter for kids. At 68, I don’t have any children or grandchildren in public schools anymore. But I’m every kid’s grandmother. I was a child care provider for 27 years. I retired and right away got involved with the parent conference.

This year was my fourth conference, and it gets better and better. Parents know there is a place where they can come and get their questions answered about everything from curriculum to college planning.

I taught two workshops on CPR. They were packed. My son, who is also a CPR instructor and had to carry everything for his old mother, was my co-facilitator. I asked him how many parents attended and he said, “Too many, Ma!” That made me feel good. So did all the hugs and kisses and thank-yous that parents were giving the facilitators and volunteers.

When you hear parents say, “See you next year!” you know the conference works. They feel they’re getting the information they need to help their kids. Even more important, we give parents who want to belong and don’t know how a way to do it. We say, “We want you here. Don’t worry. If we don’t know an answer, we’ll make sure to get it for you.”

On top of that, every parent at the conference got a red rose. I made them using material I fold like petals. I make them at night, while I watch “Dancing with the Stars” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” I made 900 this year, 500 for us and 400 for the Brooklyn parent conference. I need to get going on next year’s roses.

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Jonathan Fickies

I believe these parent conferences should be mandatory. They are that good. I actually went to last year’s conference as a parent, not organizer. I wanted to become involved.

This year I set up a workshop with police officers so parents could ask questions and listen to each other’s point of view. Most of the parents are minorities, including me. My son is African-American. I told them that keeping this divide does no good.

At first, some of the parents were angry, like, “What do we have to say to them and what do they have to say to us?” I made sure we had representatives from the ACLU and Legal Aid and other nonprofits there, too.

When the officers finished, I held my breath. But parents asked question after question. They learned about leagues and programs for at-risk kids that the NYPD has. By the end of the workshop, the parents were so receptive.

Same thing happened to me after last year’s conference. I got inspired. I began to volunteer at my school. I ran for vice president of the PTA and won. My term just began in September. I spoke to other parents, crossing guards, administrators, the principal, teachers, kids. I wanted to know everything about my son’s school.

I saw the same thing at this conference; parents were bursting with questions. For instance, the math I did and the math my son is doing have nothing in common. To have someone explain it to you so that you can understand it and help your child, that is what all parents want.

Every parent needs to feel like they’re not alone in this process. And they’re not. They just don’t know it. One mother told me that it felt like family almost with parents helping each other. That’s why I think these conferences should be mandatory.

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Jonathan Fickies

I decided the best way to find out if parents were enjoying the Queens conference was to eavesdrop. I heard some great things. My favorite was, “They shouldn’t have this conference every year; they should have it every month!” That made me so happy.

This wasn’t my first conference, but it was my first as a volunteer committee organizer. We greeted parents, registered them, gave them goody bags, helped them find Spanish or Mandarin translators if they needed them, and got them to the proper workshops. Our conference is co-sponsored by the Chinese American Parent Student Council of New York, so of the 16 workshops offered, six were in Mandarin only. And those were filled up. That’s very cool! It allows and encourages the two cultures to teach each other and learn from each other. But that was just one thing.

Parents were happy and relaxed and rushing from one workshop to another. They couldn’t get to every one so they would exchange brochures and presenter contact information with each other. It was great to see all the sharing of information.

I’m a cheerleader for the public schools. I love the teachers and the schools. So I am a very involved parent. Call me and I’m there. Don’t call me and I’m there. I bake cookies for fundraisers, chaperone field trips, read in the classrooms. Whatever the kids need. And not just my kids — all the kids.

Parents want to help their kids succeed, but some work long hours or have health problems or other issues. We’re all hungry for information that will help us help our children. The conference was welcoming and inclusive. Believe me, if you attend one of these conferences, you always, always come back. They’re that good.