Parents and caregivers are a child’s first and most important teachers. When families actively engage with schools, student outcomes improve dramatically. Yet too many families feel disconnected from their children’s education or uncertain how to support learning at home. As your School Board member, I’ll prioritize meaningful family partnerships that improve outcomes for all students.
Understanding the Challenge
Family engagement in MMSD faces several barriers:
- Communication Gaps: Important information about student progress, particularly reading benchmarks, often doesn’t reach families in accessible formats.
- Logistical Barriers: Work schedules, transportation issues, and childcare needs can prevent participation in traditional school events.
- Language and Cultural Factors: Families who speak languages other than English or come from different cultural backgrounds may face additional engagement challenges.
- Reading Support Knowledge: Many parents want to help with reading at home but lack guidance on effective approaches.
My Approach
As your School Board member, I will:
- Improve Reading Communication: Ensure families receive clear information about reading benchmarks and their child’s progress, with specific guidance for support at home.
- Create Multiple Engagement Channels: Support varied opportunities for involvement that accommodate different schedules and preferences.
- Strengthen Multilingual Outreach: Expand communication in families’ home languages and ensure interpreters are available at important events.
- Develop Parent Leadership: Support programs that build parent capacity for engagement and leadership in school decision-making.
- Use Technology Effectively: Implement user-friendly digital tools that keep families connected to student progress and school activities.
True Partnership for Student Success
Effective family engagement goes beyond traditional parent-teacher conferences and school events. It creates authentic partnerships where families understand their child’s progress, have voice in school decisions, and receive the tools they need to support learning at home. When schools and families work together, particularly around reading development, students benefit from consistent support across all environments.