Enhancing Parental Involvement in Education

Creating Inclusive and Family-Friendly Events As the new academic year begins, a wide range of activities—including social events, award ceremonies, and club meetings—are starting to take place, often scheduled after 5 pm. These events are highly valued, as they foster personal connections, facilitate the exchange of ideas, and help build networks crucial for future opportunities. No one wants to miss out on these valuable experiences! With that in mind, I kindly urge organizers to consider the needs of those with family responsibilities when planning these events. While I am fortunate to be able to afford after-school care (2:45-5:30 pm), attending events after 5 pm often requires me to either hire additional help or rely on my spouse to manage pick-up, dinner, and other family duties. Unfortunately, not everyone has these options available, which can lead to feelings of anxiety, fear of missing out, and concerns about being excluded from important networking opportunities. To help make these events more inclusive, here are a few suggestions: • Whenever possible, avoid scheduling work-related events after 5 pm. • Consider hosting social gatherings from 3-5 pm as a great way to conclude the workday. • Lunches, as well as morning or afternoon coffee/tea sessions, can also be excellent alternatives. • If events must be held after 5 pm, please consider providing accommodations for families with children. This could include setting up a kids’ area, offering babysitting services, or choosing a child-friendly venue. Thank you for taking the time to consider these suggestions and for making every effort to ensure that everyone feels welcome and valued. Cheers!

How Do We Ensure Every Participant's Journey Starts on the Right Note? 🎶 We often focus on the main event experience, but how many of us have paused to consider the very first touchpoint - the registration process? A truly inclusive event starts the moment someone considers attending. Here are a few strategies to ensure our registration processes pave the way for comprehensive inclusivity: 1. Accessible Platforms: Ensure your registration website/platform is ADA compliant and mobile-friendly, catering to diverse digital proficiencies. 2. Diverse Imagery: Use graphics and visuals that reflect a myriad of ethnicities, abilities, genders, and ages, signaling a welcoming environment for everyone. 3. Clear Communication: Offer language options or, at the very least, ensure clarity in your information. Avoid jargon. 4. Payment Flexibility: Consider various payment methods, possible installments, or even sponsorship options for those needing financial assistance. 5. Inclusive Accommodations Check: No, not sleeping rooms, but incorporate an option where attendees can specify any special requirements or accommodations they might need, be it related to physical accessibility, dietary needs, visual, hearing, or otherwise. The way we welcome our participants sets the tone for the entire event. Let's ensure we're rolling out the red carpet for everyone, right from the start! ✨ How do you prioritize inclusivity during your event registration? Share your strategies or experiences below, and let's pave the way for even more inclusive beginnings! #FirstImpressionsMatter #InclusiveEventRegistration 🌟🤝

I attended Transform last week and it was far and away the most inclusive large conference I've attended. And yet there was still room for improvement, as there always will be as we aim to fully include everyone! I thought why not share some best practices on inclusive conferences and events for anyone who may be organizing them now or in the future. 〰 Ask for pronouns in the registration process and include them on name badges. Either only provide a space for write-in or provide diverse options like he/him, she/her, they/them, she/they, he/they, they/she, they/he, they/he/she, ze/hir, and xe/xem. For the write-in option, be sure to use language like ‘Self-identify:’ instead of ‘Other:’ which can be, well, othering. 〰 Provide space to request accommodations during the registration process. Some folks may need ASL interpretation, have allergies, be sensitive to strobe lights, need reserved seating, or many other accommodations. 〰 Choose a venue that is accessible to individuals with disabilities, including ramps, elevators, accessible restrooms, and designated parking spaces. Provide clear and legible signage to assist attendees in navigating the space and accessibility guides to support specific needs. 〰 Provide at least some (ideally all) all-gender restrooms. If your venue doesn’t provide these already, consider designating single use/family restrooms as all-gender and just make it clear using your own signage. Another option is to cover gendered restroom signs with signage that describes the layout (i.e. ‘Restroom with stalls’ and ‘Restrooms with urinals and stalls’) if your venue will allow it. 〰 Ensure diversity and representation in speakers, panelists, moderators, and presenters. Aim for a range of identities, perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences to reflect the diversity of your audience. Be sure this applies to all roles equally, not just moderators or emcees which can lead to tokenism. 〰 Create a neurodivergent-friendly environment by offering quiet spaces, providing sensory-friendly materials, and minimizing loud noises and bright lights. If you want to go above and beyond, provide fidget toys! 〰 Establish community guidelines or a code of conduct that outlines expectations for respectful behavior and prohibits discrimination, harassment, or exclusionary behavior based on identity or background. Share these guidelines before the conference and then do a quick review at the kickoff session. Enforce these guidelines consistently throughout the conference and ensure there are options for safe reporting. 〰 Provide a nursing room for breastfeeding individuals. Call it a ‘nursing room’ instead of a ‘mother’s room’ as not all mothers breastfeed and not all breastfeeding individuals are mothers. 〰 Provide various Q&A options, including traditional mic setup, QR codes, and text codes for accessibility. I'm running out of space, so continued in the comments! But would love to know, what else would you add?

☎️ Make the call. I used to coach teachers on communication strategies with parents/guardians and it has been one of the most transferable experiences I’ve taken with me into a career in logistics sales. Back then, I used to think: • Why is it so difficult for teachers to pick up the phone and call a parent/guardian? • Why do teachers resort to behind-the-screen messaging (i.e. classroom app messages or email)? • Why are teachers worried about negative results from parental/guardian outreach? What I learned: ▪️Teachers were communicating with a reactive strategy and not being proactive. ▪️Teachers were only communicating with parents/guardians when their child was underperforming or in trouble. ▪️Teachers were only communicating when they needed something. This behavior created a cloud of negative energy and anxiety amongst many teachers due to the nature of the messages they were sending or responding to. So, how did I propose we shift this negative energy into something positive? ⭐️ Call parents/guardians just to make a brief introduction and inquire about their child’s interests - no strings attached. ⭐️ Call parents/guardians just to express how much you enjoy their child being in their class and share something specific they did or said that was positive that day. ⭐️ Call parents/guardians to share information about upcoming activities, lessons, or events that their child will be asked to participate in. By being proactive in making genuine positive engagement on the front end, teachers build authentic relationships with parents/guardians leading to less anxiety and negative outcomes when they have to make future calls that carry the weight of negative news, concerns, or an ask. The same goes for how we choose to communicate with our clients. #communicationstrategies #coldcall #relationshipbuilding #womeninlogistics #womeninsupplychain

Inclusivity at events — it’s so important. Let’s talk about it! 🤗 This list isn’t comprehensive, but it’s a start. Keep these six things in mind: 1. Accessibility: Ensure the venue is accessible to people with disabilities. Does it have great ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms? And for your sessions, are you offering captions, transcripts, or sign language interpreters? 2. Diverse representation: Choose speakers, panelists, and moderators who look like the general population. You should have all sorts of genders, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds represented. 3. Inclusive language & signage: Prioritize inclusive language in all of your communications, and consider offering pronoun badges for attendees. Also, be sure your signage is easy to read and includes multiple languages if necessary. 4. Dietary considerations: Provide a variety of food options to cater to different dietary needs and preferences, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, halal, and kosher options. Also, be sure to clearly label all food with allergen information. And don't forget the mocktails. 5. Cultural sensitivity: Be mindful of religious and cultural holidays when scheduling events, and respect cultural practices and customs, such as prayer times and attire. 6. Inclusive spatial planning: Designate a specific Mother’s Room, Prayer Room, and Meditation Room to let attendees step away and attend to their personal needs.

Why hiring star teachers 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 to your parent engagement challenges. And why clear communication, consistent messaging, and a space for honest conversations 𝘪𝘴. Story time... I was in my late 20s, late September, leading a team of 6 teachers at a well-resourced school. There was a knock on my classroom door. “𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀,” my boss said, “but the parents aren’t happy.” I blinked. Not mine, surely. I had already built strong relationships with families. “Other classrooms’ parents. They’re saying it’s not fair that two of our strongest teachers are paired. We've got to split you up.” 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱. “You want me to leave the students and families now?” “This isn’t exactly a choice.” But to me…it had to be. 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. One that wouldn’t be solved by shuffling teachers like chess pieces. The real issue? Parents had questions.  They wanted transparency.  And they needed reassurance that their kids were getting the same quality of experience. Instead of caving to surface-level demands,  I proposed something else: a roundtable conversation with parents.  Here’s what we did: 1) LISTENED. I invited parents to share their concerns - no defensiveness. 2) VALIDATED. Of course, they had big feelings. Their children are their world. 3) CONNECTED. We aligned around our shared goal: student success and wellbeing. 4) GOT TRANSPARENT. I shared how planning happened collaboratively across classrooms. Instructional quality wasn’t a one-room wonder. It was a team effort. 5) ASKED. What would help them feel heard and confident in our program? 6) RESPONDED. My team got creative and consistent in how we communicated and delivered. 7) FOLLOWED UP. The thank-you emails and student growth said it all. In the end? My team morale stayed intact, parents were extremely satisfied, and kids didn't suffer because of adult anxiety. — School principals and leaders: I get it. Opening the door to parent concerns can feel intimidating. And sidestepping tricky conversations may temporarily feel easiest. But what if we started asking:  • Are our communication practices clear, regular, and two-way?  • Are we inviting parent voices, not just their attendance at events?  • Do we inadvertently create competition among parents by championing select staff? When 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥, teachers are aligned, families are heard and respected,  and we all serve students better. Because the goal isn’t to silence the squeaky wheels. It’s to build relationships where nobody has to squeak to be heard. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻... 💬 Have you ever seen “star teacher culture” cause more harm than good? Or... Do you have a story about a surprising parent or teacher conversation that changed perspectives and results? Let’s hear it.

During a recent visit to an Arizona school district, I worked with educators on developing family-friendly Curriculum Storyboards to bridge the gap between school and home. What I witnessed was powerful: collaboration across subjects and grade levels, deep professional reflection, and even moments of resistance that signaled real growth. Insights from our experience: 💡 Feedback is a catalyst for growth -- not about right or wrong, but about expanding possibilities. 💡 Clarity matters -- curriculum should be accessible, not overwhelming, for families. 💡 Real-world connections boost engagement -- an Algebra 1 ice cream shop scenario suddenly made math feel inviting. 💡 Storyboards can transform home-school communication -- adding “Dinner Table Questions” helped parents engage in meaningful conversations with their kids. This initiative reminded me why curriculum should never be just a document, it should be a bridge. I’d love to hear from educators, parents, and curriculum designers: How do you make learning more accessible for families? #education #curriculum #curriculumdesign

What happens in the classroom is just one piece of the puzzle. For Multilingual Learners, the connection between home and school is so important. Families want to support their children, but they don’t always know how - or feel they have a place in the process. We can change that. When schools and educators partner with parents, we create a supportive community where families feel empowered to reinforce learning at home. Here are 5 ways to strengthen those partnerships: 1. Start with listening. Building trust begins with understanding. Take the time to hear families’ stories and their goals for their children. 2. Recognize parents as partners. Families are their child’s first teachers. Invite them to collaborate and be active participants in their child’s education. 3. Share resources in their home language. Provide homework tips and learning strategies in families’ heritage languages to help them feel included. I also recommend checking out PODER, our free online video course created specifically for Spanish-speaking parents of Multilingual Learners: https://lnkd.in/gTY_F-_q 4. Create accessible workshops and events. From Q&A sessions to literacy nights, make it easy for families to feel welcome and connected. 5. Keep communication consistent and clear. Regular updates help parents feel informed and confident about supporting their children. When we reimagine family involvement, we create more than partnerships. We build communities where families and schools work together to help every learner succeed. What’s worked in your classroom or school to engage families? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments.