064: Building Bridges: Family Engagement Strategies with Kevin Hopkins

Join us for an enlightening conversation where Krista and Craig set the stage with heartfelt reflections on their lives before introducing their remarkable guest, Kevin Hopkins. Kevin, a family engagement professional dedicated to at-risk communities, shares his inspiring journey from East St. Louis. His upbringing, steeped in strong family bonds and community support, has deeply influenced his mission to connect educators, students, and their families. By emphasizing the pivotal role of home life in shaping a student's educational experience, Kevin's story reminds us that true Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) transcends classroom boundaries.

Discover the power of parental involvement as we discuss Kevin's efforts to engage caregivers from preschool to 12th grade. Kevin walks us through creating and implementing programs to equip parents with the tools to support their children's learning and well-being. From workshops on financial planning and healthy living to the use of data for measuring the effectiveness of these initiatives, we explore strategies that make parent engagement more impactful. Kevin underscores the significance of a unified strategy in fostering educational success by shifting from localized preschool efforts to a district-wide approach.

The episode explores practical methods for effective family-school communication and the distinction between mere attendance and genuine engagement. We highlight the importance of proactive relationship-building to foster trust and avoid re-traumatizing parents with past negative school experiences. Weekly virtual meetings and community workshops create a supportive environment for parents, teachers, and students. Tune in to hear about Kevin's efforts in promoting early childhood education, the value of virtual resources, and the joy of community engagement. It's a joy that we can all share in.

EPISODE RESOURCES:
Purchase Kevin's Book: Dakota Doesn't Have to Worry: A fully illustrated children's book