Building Authentic Family-School Partnerships: FET Teams to Transform Engagement with Ari Gerzon-Kessler
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
11/04/24
•43m
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In this powerful episode, Ari Gerzon-Kessler shares practical strategies for creating meaningful connections between schools and underrepresented families through his innovative Families and Educators Together (FET) teams model. Drawing from his experience as a teacher, principal, and current leader of the Family Partnerships Department for Boulder Valley School District, Ari discusses:
➡️The critical difference between family involvement versus authentic partnership
➡️How to successfully launch and sustain FET teams
➡️The importance of moving beyond traditional involvement to true collaboration
➡️Practical ways to build trust through intentional practices
➡️Creating sustainable structures for family-school partnerships
➡️Seven key strategies for promoting positive family communication
➡️Real examples of successful action projects and outcomes
➡️The value of flattening hierarchies and creating psychological safety
🌟Ari’s Book: On the Same Team: Bringing Educators and Underrepresented Families Together, won the Independent Publishers Book Awards 2024 IPPY Gold Medal for outstanding education book.
↪️Other Resources Mentioned:
- 7 Ways to Promote Positive Communication with Families
- Beyond the Bake Sale by Anne Henderson
- The Talking Points communication platform
- Ari's School-Family Partnerships Resources to Support Your Next Steps
Ari’s Bio:
Ari Gerzon-Kessler is author of On The Same Team: Bringing Educators & Underrepresented Families Together, which won the Independent Publishers Book Awards 2024 IPPY Gold Medal for outstanding education book. He is a speaker, trainer, and coach working with schools and districts committed to forging stronger school-family partnerships. Ari also leads the Family Partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District (CO).
🎙️New episodes release every Monday featuring research-backed coaching and teaching strategies you can apply right away to better serve the children in your care.
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
How to Organize Coaching Notes: Insights from Matt Renwick
October 28, 2024
•19m
Join instructional coaching expert Matt Renwick as he shares practical strategies for organizing your coaching practice using print and digital notebooks. Drawing from research like the Zeigarnik effect and his extensive experience in education, Matt offers you invaluable insights on:
➡️When to use print vs. digital documentation
➡️Creating effective daily coaching logs
➡️Maintaining teacher trust while taking notes
➡️Providing meaningful post-observation feedback
➡️Managing confidentiality with administrators
➡️Building sustainable documentation systems
Whether you're a new coach struggling with note-taking or a veteran looking to streamline your practice, this episode provides concrete strategies you can implement right away. Matt shares his personal system for using both physical and digital tools to create a "second brain" that helps manage the complexity of instructional coaching.
Perfect for:
⏩Instructional Coaches
⏩Teacher Leaders
⏩Administrators
⏩Professional Learning Specialists
⏩Anyone supporting teacher growth
Don't miss this practical conversation about building effective coaching documentation practices while maintaining trust and confidentiality with teachers.
Mentions:
- The Zeigarnik effect
- Matt’s blog
- Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning (Scientific American - February 21, 2024)
- Why writing by hand beats typing for thinking and learning (NPR - May 11, 2024)
Don’t forget to check out my last conversation with Matt, S2 E33: How to Support Educators Resistant to Change.
Matt’s other recommended resources:
- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
- The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll
- BUJO U - The Bullet Journal Community
Matt’s book and companion resources:
- Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H.: Five Strategies for Supporting Teaching and Learning (Corwin, 2022)
- Asynchronous course
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
In this bonus episode of Schoolutions: Coaching and Teaching Strategies, I discuss creating safe, inclusive school environments during election season. Following my interview with Ari Gerzon-Kessler, I explore how educators can lean on the strategies and writing of experts to support students and families during politically sensitive times. Drawing from various education experts and authors, I examine the importance of welcoming all perspectives while maintaining professional boundaries, processing fear productively, and fostering genuine curiosity. Rather than promoting specific political views, I urge us to consider the educator's role in facilitating thoughtful discussions and ensuring every student and caregiver feels seen, heard, and valued in school spaces.
Episode Mentions:
- Risk.Fail.Rise.: A Teacher’s Guide to Learning from Mistakes. by M. Colleen Cruz
- Why Do I Have to Read This?: Literacy Strategies to Engage Our Most Reluctant Students by Cris Tovani
- Jess Lifshitz & November 2024 (Special Edition): A Word About Creating Safety Post-Election 2024
- Nourishing Caregiver Collaborations: Elevating Home Experiences and Classroom Practices for Collective CarebyNawal Qarooni
- Jennifer L. Eberhardt
- Drive by Daniel H. Pink
- Dr. Robert Keegan and Dr. Lisa Leahy
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When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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