Short description:

Unpacking the concept that parents are the primary teachers of their children, this book utilizes real-world examples, reflection questions, and additional resources to explore how schools can improve their relationship with parents and caregivers to develop a more equitable educational environment for all students.

Long description:

Fostering Parent Engagement for Equitable and Successful Schools acknowledges and unpacks what educators have known for a long time: parents are the primary teachers of their children. This engaging book explores how schools can improve their relationship with parents and caregivers to develop a more equitable educational environment for all students. Designed for district and school leaders, this practical book helps readers apply the many leadership lessons taught in training programs and education leadership courses to improve their parent engagement as a function of effective education and not compliance. Full of real-world examples, reflection questions, ?Actionable Ideas? checkpoints, and additional resources, this valuable resource encourages reflection while challenging leaders to improve and leverage parent and caregiver involvement in their children's education. 

"Patrick Darfler-Sweeney is someone I have known since my sophomore year in high school. He was not only my homeroom teacher and coach, but a mentor who I wanted to emulate. If you read Fostering Parent Engagement for Equitable and Successful Schools closely you will know why I felt that way about him many years ago, and still do to this day. Too often we want to blame parents for not wanting to show up for their children, but Darfler-Sweeney wants to understand the family perspective, develop partnerships, and find ways to work together to have an impact on student learning, and he offers that guidance and practical steps in this very important and timely book."

Peter DeWitt, Ed.D. CEO and Founder, Instructional Leadership Collective, USA

"Fostering Parent Engagement for Equitable and Successful Schools should be the reference guide for all school leaders who seek to create equitable opportunities for all their students. Common sense tells us that fully supportive families passionate about their children?s academic success are critical to the results of any school.

Any education leader understands the wide variance in how families support their children in school. While Dr. Darfler-Sweeney?s book addresses all families with a systemic approach to practical activities from prenatal to graduation, one group is often absent from traditional activities that attempt to inform parents about their child?s progress.  This group comprises parents who did not do well in school themselves and feel ?school traumatized.?  They are too often judged not to fully care about supporting their children?s progress. [This book] places them as a critical partner who should be supported on their terms and made to feel fully welcome.

 For educators committed to providing an equitable opportunity for all students, Dr. Darfler-Sweeney?s book will be THE guide to empowering every family.  We owe it to the success of our students to engage their families as a critical, constructive partner in learning.  We finally have the resource guide many have been waiting for to support families and take a leap toward equity. I know that once this book is in your collection, you will turn to it repeatedly as a guide for family engagement." 

Alan November, Senior Partner at November Learning, USA

Table of Contents:

1. Why  2. My Story  3. A Matter of Equity  4. Educating the Parents  5. Creating Opportunities  6. Teacher-Administrator-School Community Leadership  7. The Lesson of the Pandemic: Digital Equity  8.  The Good Stuff  9. Final Thoughts