School District Leaders Meet in New Orleans for AASA’s Family Engagement Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
James Minichello
703-774-6953
jminichello@aasa.org

Consortium to spotlight leaders who Play Critical Roles in Family engagement Throughout Their Communities

Alexandria, Va. – April 19, 2023 – Education leaders from across the country are convening in New Orleans, April 20-22, for the first-ever Authentic Family Engagement Summit, hosted by  AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Participants will explore current topics and cutting-edge ideas around best practices in family engagement.

“The research is clear: family engagement has a positive impact on student success,” said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA. “We are pleased that our summit will bring together champions of public education who are working to engage parents and ensure they are authentic partners on behalf of their children’s school success.”

“We are pleased that our summit will bring together champions of public education who are working to engage parents and ensure they are authentic partners on behalf of their children’s school success.” said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA.

Throughout the meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Hear from experts and fellow district leaders who are doing exemplary work around engaging families to enhance their children's education process;
• Explore cutting-edge ideas and research;
• Discuss the challenges of working with students and families who are experiencing homelessness, as well as students in foster care;
• Have an in-person experience at NOLA Public Schools to learn about its family engagement best practices; 
  
• Network with other district and school leaders who are prioritizing family engagement; and,
  
• Create strong connections for future growth.

“Families are the heartbeat of our school district,” said Avis Williams, superintendent, NOLA Public Schools. “All students deserve to receive a high-quality education to set them up for success beyond high school graduation. Effective engagement with families is a major catalyst for our young learners to thrive. We are honored to serve as host district for AASA’s Family Engagement Summit.”

“Effective engagement with families is a major catalyst for our young learners to thrive. We are honored to serve as host district for AASA’s Family Engagement Summit,” said Avis Williams, superintendent, NOLA Public Schools.

Guest speakers will include:

• Deborah Bergeron, deputy director, National Head Start Foundation; co-lead, AASA Authentic Family Engagement Cohort
• Vito Borrello, executive director, National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement
• Emily Garcia, managing director, school and district partnerships, Flamboyan Foundation
• Minerva Pardo, family engagement coordinator, West Valley (Wash.) School District #208
• Natalie Treadgold, interim deputy chief, family and community engagement, District of Columbia Public Schools

Attendees will discuss:

• What is the current national landscape around authentic family engagement and what opportunities for school system involvement exist?
• How does authentic family engagement look different in primary grades versus secondary grades?
• What are key activities schools can do with parents and families to increase authentic engagement?

Superintendents and other school system leaders can contact Mort Sherman, AASA senior associate executive director, at msherman@aasa.org, or Debbie Magee, AASA program director, at dmagee@aasa.org for more information.

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About AASA
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.