Ohio State summit brings together parents, educators to help K-12 students reach potential

A recent statewide summit hosted by The Ohio State University focused on providing resources and support to families of kindergarten through 12th grade students to help children excel academically.

The Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at the Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE) presented the virtual summit. The event brought together parents, teachers and administrators from throughout Ohio to discuss strategies to increase families’ involvement in their education.

“This conference affirms the importance of family engagement and vitality in enhancing the lives of children,” said Erik Porfeli, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Ecology, which houses CETE. “We know that family is among the most powerful of human contexts and that partnerships between families and educators are vital to support students in academic and human development.”

Conference sessions included discussions on strengthening partnerships and enhancing trust among families and educators, strategies to increase the statewide high school graduation rate, and increasing student and parental involvement in science, math, technology and engineering (STEM) programs.

“Sometimes in education, when we talk about family engagement, it can feel overwhelming. We think we have to overhaul the entire system overnight,” Barbara Boone, director of the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center, told attendees.

“But really, lasting change starts like this: One drop. … The statement you make in a meeting that tells a parent that their child may be having some struggles now, and that’s normal and it’s not forever. You’ll be there to support them and their child will learn and have a bright future. That single drop creates a ripple, creates a change in the climate. It builds trust. It’s the power of a small step.”

In one session, principals from central Ohio middle schools shared best practices on how to engage parents in helping to not only help their children reach their full academic potential, but to ensure they have the best overall experience in school.

Tabbetha Greco, assistant principal of Bexley Middle School, said the school recently surveyed parents of students who transitioned from elementary to middle school to determine how to best provide information to streamline the process.

The survey helped administrators and teachers determine, “How are we getting information? How are we receiving information?” Greco said. “Who’s collaborating with us? Who’s evaluating us? And then who’s knocking on the door, calling our offices with concerns? How do we involve them in some of the solutions?”

Cassie Muller, a seventh-grade math teacher and instructional coach at Graham Elementary and Middle School in Columbus, said administrators and teachers collaborate each year before the school year begins. They brainstorm on how to best provide parents with resources to help their children learn math and address issues that may cause the students to fall behind.

“We hear that from families a lot: ‘I don’t know how to do this math that kids are doing nowadays,’ but we give them resources so that they can support their student,” Muller said. “There’s also a calendar link. … Each grade level has their own section so that if families have students in multiple grade levels, they just have a one-stop shop to look for to know exactly what their student’s doing that week, what test they have.”

In her keynote address, Shalinee Sharma, author of “Math Mind” and CEO of the nonprofit Zearn, which provides instructional support for math educators, offered insights on how parents can help their children overcome obstacles to learning.

An important step is often a mindset shift in which parents communicate to their children that they’re capable of learning math, Sharma said.

She shared an anecdote in which the mother of her son’s preschool classmate told Sharma that the classmate’s family are artists and, therefore, “We’re just not math people.” Sharma said she encouraged the mother to change her messaging to ensure her children would be receptive to learning.

“All kids are math kids, and even if you don’t believe it yet, just say it. That’s a small change and that will have extraordinary impact,” Sharma said. “When math makes sense, kids build confidence.”

For more information about the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center and the 2027 Family Leaders for Ohio Schools Academy, a leadership program for parents of children in K-12 Ohio public schools, visit the program’s website.