Tony3

Summary

The discussion focuses on building parents’ confidence in the school and helping teachers feel more comfortable engaging with families.

Addressing parents’ concerns

Parents may feel worried when they lack information about what happens at school and feel “kept in the dark.” Trust is built through visible, consistent communication—not simply by asking parents to trust the school.

The school could keep parents informed by:

• Sharing selected daily or weekly activities on social media, such as classroom photos or updates, while carefully managing what is shared.
• Inviting parents to observe classroom activities when appropriate.
• Encouraging children to tell their parents what they learned and experienced at school. Hearing directly from their children may help parents engage more with them.

These efforts may need to be repeated over time to maintain confidence and trust.

Helping teachers welcome parent involvement

School leaders should model the kind of parent engagement they want teachers to practice. The principal and leadership team can demonstrate how to communicate with parents and show that parents generally want to understand what is happening, rather than look for mistakes.

New approaches should be introduced gradually rather than imposed as blanket rules. For example, the leadership team could first host a lesson or activity involving parents, giving teachers an opportunity to observe.

Teachers also need assurance that leaders will support them if parent interactions are difficult. Parent involvement should not be framed as an attempt to assess or criticize teachers. Opportunities to develop communication skills and learn from experience can help teachers improve, with feedback supporting them after initial attempts.

Speakers and sources

• Interviewer: Raises questions about parents’ concerns and how to encourage teachers to welcome families.
• Respondent: A school leader, identified as a principal, explains approaches to communication, trust-building, and supporting teachers.