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7 Ways to Supercharge Family Engagement This Back-to-School Season and Support Enrollment Goals
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
Presented by Kristyn Hunt Cathey, APR, Chief of Communications, Alief Independent School District (TX), and Immediate Past President, TSPRA; and Elizabeth Lamport, Vice President of Marketing, School Family Media
Moderated by Erica McCormick, Growth Marketing Strategist, School Family Media
Sponsored by TeacherLists
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Back-to-school season is the perfect time to strengthen connections with families—but knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. Taking intentional steps early helps families feel informed, confident, and ready for the year ahead.
From clear communication to early access to resources and meaningful opportunities to connect, schools and districts can build a strong foundation for engagement that also supports enrollment growth, student retention, and stronger community ties.
In this edWebinar, we explore practical strategies to supercharge family engagement this back-to-school season. You learn how to share key information early, communicate consistently across channels, host welcoming events, and equip families with the tools and tips they need to feel confident, informed, and connected—setting the stage for stronger relationships and a successful school year.
You leave with actionable strategies and a clear plan to boost engagement and foster a more connected school community. This recorded edWebinar is ideal for PreK-12 teachers, librarians, communications managers, school and district leaders, and anyone responsible for family communications, and is designed to help you communicate more effectively and build stronger connections with families.
About the Presenters
Kristyn Hunt Cathey, APR, was hired as the first Chief of Communications & PR for Alief ISD in July 2023. Before accepting this role as department leader, she served as the Director of Communications for Goose Creek CISD for two years. Her foray into school public relations began in her hometown of Port Arthur ISD, where she served as the first Media Communications Specialist for 11 years.
She was installed as the first Black President of the TSPRA in February 2025. This is a three-year term as President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President. She earned her Accreditation in Public Relations in 2022, putting her in an elite group of PR professionals. She was honored to serve in the inaugural classes of the Southeast Texas 40 Under 40 and the National School Public Relations Association 35 Under 35, both in 2014. She is a proud wife, mother of one, daughter, and friend.
Elizabeth Lamport serves as Vice President of Marketing at School Family Media, where she leads the marketing teams across the organization’s business units: PTO Today, EduKit, School Tool Box, and TeacherLists. With over 20 years of marketing experience—including a decade focused on education marketing—Elizabeth considers herself equal parts creative and analytical, and she loves that marketing allows her to leverage both skills. She holds an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Florida State University. Elizabeth is known for her ability to translate complex challenges into effective, results-driven marketing strategies.
About the Moderator
Erica McCormick brings 15 years of marketing experience to her role at School Family Media, where she leads growth marketing for TeacherLists. She focuses on driving school and district engagement through clear, effective communication. Erica helps school communities simplify supply list sharing to succeed during the back-to-school season with TeacherLists. She is also an active volunteer in her local school district, helping support a range of education-focused initiatives.
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Join the Community & Family Engagement community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
TeacherLists is the free, easy-to-use online school supply list solution that helps your school manage and share supply lists with families in seconds—without the hassle of printing and distributing. Parents love the convenience of viewing lists digitally and shopping through major national retailers. All supply lists are ADA-compliant, and TeacherLists is 100% free for schools and families.
