Presented by April Hawkins, Former District Leader, Current Marketing Manager, ParentPowered; and Missy Martin, Title I Family Engagement Specialist, Lexington County School District One (SC)

Sponsored by ParentPowered, creator of Ready4K

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Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.

It takes a village to ensure a child’s social-emotional well-being and education is on the right track. That means all adults—including teachers, caregivers, and family members—are essential players in a student’s learning team and must meaningfully engage on a regular basis to create the best outcomes for each child. Educators have long known this, but moving beyond occasional outreach to developing deep, positive relationships with families can feel like a big undertaking. It doesn’t have to be!

During this edWebinar, you hear how Lexington County School District One (SC) has a key advantage when it comes to improving student outcomes through the strong partnerships and ongoing communication they have built with school families. Join the lively conversation to learn concrete ways to:

• Welcome families as essential partners in the educational process
• Engage family members in student learning
• Communicate more effectively with diverse families using easy-to-implement, research-based strategies

A new school year is the perfect opportunity to ensure family communication and engagement are front and center in a student’s educational experience, leading to a more positive school climate and positive impacts on learning outcomes.

This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-8 school and district leaders.

About the Presenters

April Hawkins is the marketing manager at ParentPowered. She was previously a public school district leader, developing and implementing public relations plans to inform and engage diverse communities. She has a passion for equity and has worked with a global nonprofit advocating for LGBTQ+ workplace equality, as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She holds an M.A. in Middle Eastern studies from Tel Aviv University and a B.A. in French literature from the University of Houston and the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour.

Missy Martin began her career in Lexington County School District One in 2001 as a parent educator, providing home visitation and personalized supports for children and families. A large part of this role was to strengthen the efficacy of families in the areas of early childhood development and parent-child engagement. Additionally, Missy coordinated the district’s Family Literacy Program, facilitating family engagement and educational opportunities to increase literacy and multigenerational learning.

In 2015, Missy took on the role of Family Engagement Specialist, where she currently works to support best practice around family engagement in Title I schools, as well as provide support to the district’s preschool program. Prior to her time in Lexington One, Missy’s experience included teaching and serving as the director of a child development center. Missy is a recipient of the 2013 Heroes In the Field Award and was featured in The Riley Institute WhatWorksSC Clearinghouse finalist film highlighting Parents as Teachers SC.

Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.

Join the Creating a Positive School Climate community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.

Research shows that families play a powerful role in fostering children’s development. ParentPowered is on a mission to help K–12 districts provide accessible, evidence-based family engagement curriculum, without adding more to teachers’ plates. Our Ready4K program — for PreK through grade 8 — supports, inspires, and activates parents and caregivers with simple, strengths-based insights they can turn into everyday teachable moments. Learn more and request a demo at ready4k.com.