Eric Hudspith’s Post

This LPI case study of Oakland Unified School District explores the district’s path to becoming a full-service community schools district, the challenges and successes it faced, and district-level resources and infrastructure. #CommunitySchools https://lnkd.in/ePGBT4C3

When a family selects a school for their children, it is a deeply personal and thoughtful decision. I’m working with a district that needs to think about school sizes and attendance zoning. When framing questions with constituents around school sizes, everyone defaults to “we prefer small schools.” I get it. I benefit from a small neighborhood school where this little guy gets to walk with big brother every day. But I’ve also seen well run large elementary schools that offer SO MANY more programs and services than my son’s school. The challenge is that if your experience in a large school has not been stellar, you’re going to defer to personal experience. These are complex discussions and decisions, which is why Education Elements front loads our strategy work with robust community engagement. Because when planning happens with people and not at people, it creates less friction and more support. #strategy #communityengagement #planning #schools

The 2024 EL Summer Issue is a must read for all school and district educators. My particular favorite was the article written by Dr. Shadae Harris, former Chief Engagement Officer of Richmond Public Schools (RPS). In 2021, RPS, similar to other school districts, struggled with chronic absenteeism. More than 37% of students were absent 10 percent or more of the school year. As we all know, traditional methods often fail to disrupt this or to reengage/reconnect with students. Through Dr. Harris's innovative methods and collaboration with the community, RPS tackled this issue by focusing on relationships. The elements in this article are the foundational tools we need to make meaningful and sustained change within our schools. https://lnkd.in/esxF6mXQ

“Schools tend to plan everything unilaterally, even events for families. When I take an unvarnished look back at my six years as a school principal, I feel both embarrassment and regret that we rarely brought families to the decision-making table. We did not even include their expert voices when we planned events such as back-to-school nights or parent-teacher conferences. By failing to include family perspectives, we consistently missed out on the opportunity to improve these events for all stakeholders… Through their participation on FET teams, family members and educators grow steadily more confident and vocal in pursuing needed changes. In essence, they each acknowledge their independence and use it to inspire shared action. Their collaboration creates tangible change and disperses the responsibility for creating a just school.” In honor of the launch of my book On The Same Team: Bringing Educators and Underrepresented Families Together, this is one of a few quotes I’m sharing. My book highlights many of the learnings from hundreds of collaborative gatherings that center family voices and offer a proven structure for creating more equitable schools. #k12education, #teachers, #education, #teachingandlearning, #educationalleadership #familyengagement #parents #schoolleadership Solution Tree NAFSCE (National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement) Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE)

"Any system created by humans can be transformed by humans as well. If we are going to effectively create more just and collaborative educational systems, we need to make key decisions together. More important perhaps, we need to change the ways in which we approach our partnerships—both the how and why that drive our work with families. . . We need to equip educators with efficient, high leverage practices that help them build stronger relationships with families, enhance learning outcomes, and transform school communities." In honor of the launch of my book On The Same Team: Bringing Educators and Underrepresented Families Together, this is one of a few quotes I’m sharing this month. My book highlights many of the learnings from hundreds of collaborative gatherings that center family voices and offer a proven structure for creating more equitable schools. #schoolimprovement #familyengagement #schoolleadership #teacherleadership #equityineducation Solution Tree NAFSCE (National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement) National Center for Community Schools National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) TalkingPoints National Center for Families Learning

Are you considering moving to Oklahoma with school-aged children? 🌟 Education is a top concern for many families. Understanding the educational landscape can make a huge difference. Here’s a quick guide to help you explore educational opportunities in Oklahoma: 1️⃣ Diverse School Options: Oklahoma offers a mix of public, private, and charter schools. Researching these can help you find the best fit for your child's needs. 2️⃣ Great Public Schools: Areas like Tulsa, Broken Arrow, and Jenks have some top-ranking public schools known for their quality education and extracurricular programs. 3️⃣ Specialized Programs: Many schools offer programs for gifted students, special education services, and advanced placement options. 4️⃣ Community Involvement: Schools here encourage parent participation through PTA and other community engagement programs. Creating a network is essential for your child's growth and success. 5️⃣ Higher Education: Oklahoma also boasts strong higher education institutions for future planning, including the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. Remember, a well-informed move ensures a smoother transition for you and your children. Let's connect if you need any help listing, marketing, or purchasing your new home in Oklahoma. Together, we can make this relocation seamless and exciting for you and your family! #OklahomaRealEstate #EducationInOklahoma #FamilyMoving #SchoolOptions #RelocationTips

The Importance of Family Engagement In the realm of education, family engagement isn't just a buzzword—it's a proven strategy for transforming student outcomes and school environments. As we at the California Family Engagement Network (CA-FEN) continue our mission to empower families and educators, we want to highlight why this work is so crucial. The Power of Partnership Over five decades of research have consistently shown that when families and educators join forces, the impact on a child's educational journey is profound. This partnership yields remarkable results: 📈 Increased student achievement 📅 Improved attendance and behavior 🤝 Enhanced social-emotional skills 🎓 Higher graduation rates Transforming School Climates Family engagement is a cornerstone of sustainable school improvement. When families are actively present and involved in schools: 🏫 School climate improves 👩🏫👨🏫 Teacher morale increases This ripple effect creates a positive feedback loop, enhancing the educational experience for everyone involved. #FamilyEngagement #EducationEquity #StudentSuccess #SchoolImprovement #CaliforniaEducation

I believe fostering partnerships between community organizations and schools is essential for achieving educational equity. A compelling example of this collaboration comes from Child Trends, highlighting crucial steps for strong family-school partnerships. First - designing a shared vision and goals, Second - developing shared norms, expectations communication processes, and Third - consistent and meaningful engagements. The brief also talks about Kingmakers of Oakland, an impactful community organization across the Bay. At Bridge the Gap we are proud to work with the Sausalito Marin City School District to emulate such impactful collaborations. These approaches are one of the many powerful initiatives to achieve equity in education! #EducationEquity #Inclusive #Education #CommunitySchools

"The barriers we have explored are not immutable. We need to break down the walls between educators and families as well as the ones between educators themselves. The ruptures can be repaired and stronger bonds can be developed. Many of us are hungry for these changes and know that, as Audre Lorde put it, 'Without community, there is no liberation.' When we as educators create a place where families of diverse backgrounds can thrive, it makes our schools safer and more effective for all students. It shows that, no matter who you are, what language you speak, or what your skin color may be, our schools care about you. This goes far beyond closing the achievement gap. It is about opening our hearts to each other and making our communities stronger and more welcoming to stakeholders of different backgrounds and perspectives." In honor of the launch of my book On The Same Team: Bringing Educators and Underrepresented Families Together, this is one of a few quotes I’m sharing this month. My book highlights many of the learnings from hundreds of collaborative gatherings that center family voices and offer a proven structure for creating more equitable schools. #schoolimprovement #familyengagement #schoolleadership #teacherleadership #equityineducation Solution Tree NAFSCE (National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement) National Center for Community Schools National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) TalkingPoints

The Brookings Institution shares six powerful lessons on how family, school and community engagement can transform education: • Begin with beliefs • Position families as partners • Collectively break barriers • Build at the speed of trust • Make family, school, and community engagement a must • Disrupt power dynamics through community-driven research #backtoschool #familyengagement #schoolpartnership