Family Engagement that Works

Families are a child’s first and most important teachers. Schools must engage them not just respectfully, but flexibly and realistically.

Ebony Burnett understands that family engagement cannot be one-size-fits-all. Families have diverse schedules, languages, experiences, and priorities. True partnership means meeting families where they are and honoring the strengths they bring.

At the YMCA, Ebony launched the organization’s first association-wide Family Advisory Board. She listened, adapted, and implemented policies that reflected what families actually needed, not what institutions assumed they needed.

Throughout her career, Ebony has created spaces where families are not just informed, but genuinely seen, heard, and involved. That’s the kind of leadership our schools need, one that builds trust by putting families at the center of the conversation.

Ebony believes we should:

• Advocate for family engagement strategies that reflect our community

• Encourage schools to offer flexible meeting times, formats, and communication methods

• Support practices that honor families’ values and voices

• Work to remove barriers that prevent families from participating in school life