Trenace Dorsey-Hollins

Trenace Dorsey-Hollins’s tireless efforts reflect her belief that every child deserves an excellent education, and her work continues to make a profound impact on the future of Fort Worth’s children.

One of Parent Shield’s major initiatives, the “Literacy is Freedom” campaign, was launched in response to the alarming statistic that 64% of children in Fort Worth are not reading at grade level. The campaign’s first phase focused on engaging community stakeholders and providing independent literacy assessments to help parents understand their children’s reading levels. Its current phase includes offering reading intervention services and establishing the Parent Advocacy Literacy Fellowship, which equips parents with knowledge about the Science of Reading and advocacy skills to demand educational excellence for all children in Fort Worth.

Today, Trenace leads Parent Shield Fort Worth, a grassroots movement dedicated to ensuring that every child in Fort Worth ISD receives a high-quality education. Under her leadership, Parent Shield is addressing systemic inequities—particularly in marginalized communities—by meeting parents where they are and providing the tools and resources they need to support their children’s education.

Before leading Parent Shield, Trenace transitioned from a successful corporate career into full-time educational advocacy after confronting inequities firsthand. Her advocacy journey began with her own family’s experiences navigating the public school system. When her oldest daughter—well-prepared for kindergarten—was misclassified to lighten a teacher’s workload, Trenace discovered the school had received an “F” rating for academic achievement. That experience, compounded by challenges advocating for her youngest daughter with unique needs, ignited her passion for systemic change.

A proud fifth-generation Fort Worth native, Trenace Dorsey-Hollins is also a devoted mother of two girls and a product of both Fort Worth public schools and Texas College. Her deep community roots and lived experiences continue to fuel her unwavering commitment to educational justice.