Families and school staff need to be partners in order for students to succeed. Through welcoming families, honoring their funds of knowledge, and respecting their parent role and voice, school staff can help families become partners. This session will focus on family engagement research and most importantly the strategies that school staff, families, and students can use to elevate the voices of family members and students.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about family engagement research that points to better outcomes for students when families are effectively engaged.
• Identify at least one example of an evidence-based strategy or practice that school staff can use to elevate student and family voice.
• Identify strategies that families and students can use to share their thoughts and ideas, and lift their voices to be heard.

Presenter: Cheri Sylla is one of two Statewide Coordinators with the Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative (WSPEI). She has over 18 years of experience in family engagement working with schools and families to support strong relationships that lead to effective partnerships.