The Engagement Gap

In this episode of The Engagement Gap, host Shammai Ellman speaks with Kirk Koennecke, Superintendent of Eanes ISD. Drawing on his leadership experience in three different school communities, Kirk shares how listening helps leaders understand local priorities, build relationships, and shape a shared direction. From reconnecting alumni with current students to beginning his tenure at Eanes with a deliberate focus on listening and learning, he explains why engagement requires intentional, routine, and consistent effort.

The conversation explores why frequent communication does not automatically mean families feel heard. Kirk describes how different parents need different opportunities to connect, whether through coffee conversations, small groups, community forums, or written feedback. He also explains the importance of setting clear goals and boundaries when seeking input, including being honest about who ultimately makes decisions. Reflecting on a successful bond initiative at Indian Hill, he shares how conversations in people's homes helped build trust and give families space to ask questions.

Shammai and Kirk also examine how districts can identify quieter audiences and adapt their approach. From tracking message responses to offering different conference times, virtual options, and student-led conversations, Kirk encourages leaders to reconsider how they invite families to participate. He cautions against assuming that limited participation means parents do not care and makes the case for putting students at the center of strategic planning. The episode closes with his vision for success: shared language, clear priorities, and measurable outcomes illustrated through students' experiences.

Key Moments
01:20 Learning to listen across three different school communities.

02:00 Reconnecting alumni with the Eanes school community.

08:04 Reaching families across different communication channels.

10:11 Defining engagement around audience needs and clear outcomes.

12:42 Building relationships through personal conversations.

16:49 Setting clear boundaries for community input.

20:28 Building bond support through conversations in people's homes.

23:14 Challenging assumptions about parents and educators.

26:25 Recognizing that quiet participation can reflect satisfaction.

28:32 Identifying quieter audiences through multiple platforms.

29:49 Rethinking conference times, formats, and student involvement.

34:11 Using message data to identify engagement gaps.

39:21 Letting community input shape strategic planning.

41:24 Putting student voice at the center of school decisions.

43:34 Defining success through shared priorities and measurable outcomes.

Why You'll Love This Episode
Kirk offers a practical perspective on listening as an ongoing leadership responsibility. His examples give school and district leaders ways to build trust, clarify the purpose of parent input, and create more opportunities for families and students to shape their school community.

Connect with Guest
Kirk Koennecke, Superintendent of Eanes ISD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirk-koennecke-493798176 
Website: https://www.eanesisd.net/ 

Connect with Us
PTC Wizard
LinkedIn: https://www.ptcwizard.com/ 
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ptc-wizard 

Shammai Ellman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shammai/ 

About The Engagement Gap
The Engagement Gap explores how K-12 leaders are building meaningful, year-round relationships with families. Hosted by Shammai Ellman, Founder of PTC Wizard, the podcast examines how stronger school-family dialogue can support students, reduce barriers to participation, ease pressure on staff, and influence academic, behavioral, and attendance outcomes.

Subscribe & Listen
Subscribe to The Engagement Gap for more conversations with education leaders about building trust, strengthening family partnerships, and supporting student success.

In the first episode of The Engagement Gap, host Shammai Ellman speaks with Dr. Kevin Gilbert, Assistant Superintendent of Schools for The School District of South Orange & Maplewood. Reflecting on his time as acting superintendent during a difficult leadership transition, Dr. Gilbert shares how he recentered students, launched listening tours, and worked to rebuild confidence through consistent communication, transparency, and visibility.

The conversation explores the difference between keeping families informed and helping them feel they belong. Dr. Gilbert discusses survey findings showing that 83% of families felt welcomed by school staff, compared with 72% by administration, and why both numbers revealed room for improvement. He also challenges assumptions about parents who do not answer calls or attend events. Work schedules, language needs, and family circumstances can shape participation, making it essential to offer different ways to connect. A visit to a family's living room illustrates what meeting families where they are can look like.

Shammai and Dr. Gilbert also examine how teachers, principals, and district leaders share responsibility for meaningful engagement. From positive phone calls home and welcoming first impressions to school climate surveys and coordinated language support, the discussion highlights ways to identify gaps and respond to families' needs. Dr. Gilbert closes with advice for leaders rethinking their approach: build collaboratively, lean into conversations with parents who challenge you, and make sure smaller groups of families have a voice.

Key Moments
01:22 Taking over as acting superintendent during a district crisis.

03:55 Recentering students and reaching out to families.

05:20 Launching listening tours across the school community.

07:09 Hearing calls for communication, transparency, and visibility.

09:57 Rebuilding trust through consistency and accountability.

13:35 Examining gaps in families' feelings of welcome.

15:24 Making family engagement a district priority.

17:36 Defining meaningful engagement through belonging.

20:55 Understanding barriers behind unanswered calls and emails.

22:56 Listening to families in their own living room.

25:23 Making first impressions count at back-to-school night.

30:11 Using classroom outreach to identify engagement gaps.

33:05 Connecting school climate data with family engagement.

38:10 Coordinating language support for families.

45:18 Avoiding top-down mandates and including overlooked voices.

Why You'll Love This Episode
Dr. Gilbert brings a candid leadership perspective to the everyday work of connecting families and schools. His examples offer educators and district leaders practical ways to listen, reconsider assumptions about participation, and help families feel they belong in their child's educational journey.

Connect with Guest
Dr. Kevin Gilbert, Assistant Superintendent of Schools for The School District of South Orange & Maplewood
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-gilbert-16828610b 
Website: https://www.somsdk12.org/ 

Connect with Us
PTC Wizard
LinkedIn: https://www.ptcwizard.com/ 
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ptc-wizard 

Shammai Ellman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shammai/ 

About The Engagement Gap
The Engagement Gap explores how K-12 leaders are building meaningful, year-round relationships with families. Hosted by Shammai Ellman, Founder of PTC Wizard, the podcast examines how stronger school-family dialogue can support students, reduce barriers to participation, ease pressure on staff, and influence academic, behavioral, and attendance outcomes.

Subscribe & Listen
Subscribe to The Engagement Gap for more conversations with education leaders about building trust, strengthening family partnerships, and supporting student success.