AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 19, 2026
Ohio Statewide Summit Emphasizes Importance of Family Engagement
A recent virtual summit hosted by The Ohio State University brought together parents, teachers, and administrators from across Ohio to discuss effective approaches for supporting students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The event, led by the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at the Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE), focused on empowering families to help children excel academically and personally.
Highlighting the Power of School Partnerships
Erik Porfeli, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Ecology, which houses CETE, underscored the significance of strong partnerships between families and educators. He stated, “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 Target Academic Success and Family Involvement
The summit featured a variety of sessions designed to foster stronger connections between schools and families. Topics included strategies to strengthen trust, ways to increase the statewide high school graduation rate, and initiatives to boost student and parent engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. Enhancing both family involvement and parent engagement emerged as key themes throughout the event.
Sharing Best Practices from Central Ohio Schools
During the conference, principals from central Ohio middle schools shared their experiences addressing transitions and building communication with parents. Tabbetha Greco, assistant principal at Bexley Middle School, described a recent survey conducted with parents whose children were moving from elementary to middle school. The survey provided insights on how best to share and receive information from families and how to involve them in addressing school challenges.
Cassie Muller, a seventh-grade math teacher and instructional coach at Graham Elementary and Middle School in Columbus, explained how her school prepares resources for parents each year. "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. The school offers a calendar link with grade-specific sections, making it easier for families to track assignments and tests for each child, thus supporting math confidence and overall family involvement.
Keynote Highlights Mindset for Math Success
Shalinee Sharma, author of "Math Mind" and CEO of the nonprofit Zearn, delivered the keynote address. She emphasized the importance of a positive mindset around learning math, urging parents to communicate confidence to their children. Sharma shared an anecdote about encouraging a parent to change their messaging from "we're not math people" to affirming that everyone can succeed in math. “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. This approach, she noted, can greatly enhance student achievement and confidence in math.
Resources and Future Opportunities for Family Leaders
The summit also highlighted opportunities for families to become more involved in educational leadership. The Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center offers the 2027 Family Leaders for Ohio Schools Academy, a program designed for parents of children in K-12 Ohio public schools who are interested in supporting academic success and building stronger school partnerships. More information is available on the program’s website.
Source: news.osu.edu.
