ISSN: 3143-066X

Offering Everyone a Seat at the Table: Designing Family Engagement That Matters
Eichele, Kimberly
Published:
November 15, 2026
Issue:
Winter 2027
DOI:
Citation:
Eichele, K. “Offering Everyone a Seat at the Table: Designing Family Engagement That Matters.” Legacy: Transformation in Action, Winter 2027, 3(2), 21-24.
Keywords:
engagement; involvement; relationships; Maslow; barriers; family; table;
Abstract:
Traditional involvement models such as parent-teacher conferences or open houses are stand-alone events that inevitably fail to reach every family or provide a tangible foundation for continued engagement. Other involvement models may include providing transportation for the child to get to school, arriving on time, or reviewing and signing off on important documents and paperwork that come home from school. While these actions and others are critical to student success, they are only a small piece of what builds strong connections and relationships. Participation requires a reciprocal relationship, a seesaw of actions resulting in repeated engagements.

