WORKSHOP TITLE: The Art of Engaging Families and Communities in Education
DURATION: 3 hours
FACILITATOR: Dr. Jennifer Obidah-Alleyne and Dr. Dawn Chesney-Bynoe
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
Strong schools are not built in isolation; they thrive through meaningful partnerships with families and communities. How often do we pause to reflect on how our beliefs, experiences, and communication styles shape those relationships? Come and engage in an interactive experience that demonstrates practical ways to build meaningful partnerships with families and communities. This session will equip you with practical strategies to build inclusive, collaborative, and culturally responsive school environments.
Whether you are a classroom teacher or a school leader, this workshop will provide you with the mindset and tools needed to move from simply involving families to truly engaging them as partners in education.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Analyse personal beliefs, prior experiences and assumptions, learning how they impact family engagement.
- Reflect on attitudes towards parents and caregivers to bring about increased empathy and openness to diverse family contexts.
- Explore practical strategies for building trust and partnerships with families.
- Commit to actionable steps that enhance the culture of parental engagement in their schools.
TARGET PARTICIPANTS:
All Teachers, School Leaders.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Participants are required to bring a laptop or some other electronic device. The workshop facilitator will provide all other materials.