Intentional Partnerships

During this episode we chat with Karla Kush about her experiences as a middle school principle in a small, diverse community and how that community has impacted how they work with families. She highlights how their work is part of the continuum of family engagement and the impact that has on her students.

This week we are talking with Christy and Ed Roberts, parents of three wonderful kids that span in age from elementary to high school. Christy and Ed discuss what it has meant to their family to engage with their kids’ schools and services outside of school, especially within the special education world. Listen for the small ways their school and services demonstrated respect for their roles and expertise, prompting them to engage further.

Listen in as Vito Borrello, executive director of the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement, guides us through the national landscape of family engagement. Vito also brings us up to speed on the amazing work NAFSCE is doing to ensure that family engagement practices become an integrated part of education, from birth forward.

This week we are chatting with Jill Spillman and Christina Hodgkinson of the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority about what it means to engage families in the community and in a variety of services.  Listen as they delve into their work engaging families as part of a system of support built around housing in Akron.

Join us as we talk with Donna Kosicki, Georgia’s PTA Family Engagement Committee chairperson, about her work at the state level and beyond in family engagement. Hear how the work of the PTA at the state and school levels are able to continue, even in the face of challenges.

Michael and Lindsey talk with Renea Butler-King about her extensive work with families in various roles, but most recently in her research around school discipline of preschool aged African-American boys. We explore the impact of professional and personal mindsets when attempting to engage families, and what a difference compassion and empathy make!

Join us as we talk with Salvador Romero, Coordinator of Family and Community Engagement at Harrisonburg City Public Schools in Virginia. Our conversation in this episode centers around the incredible work that Salvador and his team are doing to make their school an integral, accessible part of the community for families. Listen for ideas on how your organization might think about what being truly accessible means!