This recorded webinar is the first session of our WestEd’s Leading Together Series where WestEd experts share research and evidence-based practices that help bridge opportunity gaps, support positive outcomes for children and adults, and help build thriving communities.
In this webinar, Maria Paredes, Senior Engagement Manager at WestEd, discusses how to create welcoming school environments, maintain clear and open communication, and actively engage with families.
Learn how these practices can improve school culture and grow a community of dedicated educators, students, and families.
Session Topics:
- Physical Environment: Learn about the small but meaningful details that make a school a welcoming space for families and the entire school community.
- Personal Interactions: Positive interactions matter a great deal when families take time to visit the school and when they are involved in school activities and events. Explore key strategies that make a great impression.
- Opportunities for Learning and Leadership: Good communication between educators and families is central to effective family engagement. Discover how to create family learning opportunities and open doors for parents to share their ideas, experiences, and visions for the school.
Featured Speaker
Dr. Maria Paredes is a Senior Engagement Manager at WestEd. She leads projects designed to transform home, school, and community partnerships. Over the last 25 years, she has designed and implemented family and community engagement projects that integrate student learning needs with school improvement priorities in underserved communities. In 2009, Paredes developed Academic Parent–Teacher Teams and pioneered data conversations with families to elevate home and school partnerships.
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