Today is a special show because we get to hear from an extraordinary teacher from Sunnyslope Elementary School. Patricia Wharton has a unique ability to connect with students and their families that have recently come from another country. From her pre-start of the school year parent-teacher conferences to text message groups to record-breaking fundraising to a simple Spanish greeting, it all is part of genuinely engaging parents.

Creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that allows kids to transition more easily into a new school setting, let alone a new community and culture, is the foundation that Patricia builds with students and their families. Her passion comes from her own experience of coming to The United States not knowing the language. She's been in those parents' shoes, and she knows from her own kids how these new students feel as they first step onto the school campus. She also knows that engaged families result in dramatic differences in student behavior, grades, attendance, and so much more.