Parents As Teacher is an international early childhood parent education and family support program. In the 1970's, Missouri educators were finding kindergarten students on all levels of school readiness. Early childhood professionals suggested a program to help parents understand the role in encouraging their child's development right from birth could help prepare children for school and life success. By 1981, Parents As Teachers (PAT) was started a pilot program of first time parents of newborns.

Eight years later, during the year of '89-'90 Parents As Teachers was a pilot program in Hays. Joan Dunn was the first and only parent educator with the program. In 1992, two part-time Parent Educators were added to the staff. The program grew and in 1995 an additional Parent Educator position was added.

Three year later, the Head Start Director, wrote a grant which allowed the State Tobacco Settlement money to be spent for an additional 13 positions. The additional of staff would allow for Early Head Start to merge with the Parents As Teachers program. The year of 1998-1999 was the planning stage. Staff were hired and trained during this time.

Early Head Start successfully merged and was up and running in 1999. This was the first program in the state to merge. The program was renamed "PATHS."

PATHS currently occupies three classrooms for office space at Hays High School and through the school district #489, PATHS employees eighteen staff members.