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Improve Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Our professional development is the first step in preparing schools to overcome barriers and reap the benefits of high-impact family engagement​. Project Appleseed's professional development comes in two forms -  our Traveling Workshop or Family Engagement Toolbox TrainingGet inspired by the grandfather of the oldest family engagement events in American public schools!

Project Appleseed, Kevin Walker

Bring the founder and president of Project Appleseed, Kevin Walker, (pictured)to your schools! He is a highly respected leader in the field of parent and family engagement, with over 30 years of experience working with schools, educators, and families to develop and implement effective programs that support student success. He prepares schools to reach every parent, grandparent and caring adult in your school community. Mr. Walker has been recognized as:

What Are The Benefits?

There are several reasons why the Traveling Workshop and Family Engagement Toolbox Training are important professional development opportunities. Project  Appleseed's professional development in high-impact family engagement​ can be beneficial for educators and school staff as it can help them better understand and meet the needs of the families they serve, and ultimately lead to more positive outcomes for students. Professional development in high-impact parent and family engagement can have many benefits for individuals, organizations, and communities. Some possible benefits include:

  • Increased professional knowledge and skills: Professional development in family engagement can help educators and parent leaders learn new strategies and techniques for involving families in their children's education and development. This can help improve their practice and become more effective in their work.

Project Applesed Traveling Workshop
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  • Improved outcomes for students: Research has shown that students tend to perform better academically when their families are actively involved in their education. By providing professional development opportunities that focus on high-impact family engagement, schools can help teachers and other staff members learn effective strategies for involving families in their children's learning and development.

  • Stronger relationships between schools and families: Project Appleseed's professional development can help to build strong, positive relationships between schools, families, and communities. These workshops can help educators learn how to communicate effectively with families and build trust and collaboration.

  • Increased involvement among families: Our professional development workshops can help to increase the overall level of involvement among families, which can have a positive impact on student achievement.

  • Greater sense of community: Project Appleseed's professional development can help to create a sense of community within a school, which can lead to a more positive and supportive learning environment for students.

  • Improved communication: Our workshops and training can help to improve communication between schools and families, which is crucial for ensuring that students have the support they need to succeed.

Project Appleseed's professional development is important because we can help to improve academic outcomes, strengthen relationships, increase involvement, create a sense of community, and improve communication between schools and families.

Who Should Participate?

There are several groups of people who may benefit from attending our family engagement professional development:

  • Teachers and other educators: Teachers and other educators are typically the primary point of contact for families and play a key role in involving families in their children's education. Family engagement workshops and training can help educators learn effective strategies for involving families and building strong partnerships.​

  • School administrators: School administrators are responsible for creating a culture of partnership and collaboration within their schools. Project Appleseed can help administrators learn how to support and encourage family involvement.

  • Parent leaders: Parent leaders, such as parent-teacher association (PTA/PTO) members or other volunteers, play a crucial role in building partnerships between schools and families. Family engagement workshops can help parent leaders learn how to effectively advocate for their children and their school community.

  • Community leaders: Community leaders, such as business owners, faith leaders, and elected officials, can play a key role in supporting and advocating for public schools. Project Appleseed's professional development can help these leaders understand the importance of family involvement and learn how to support schools in their efforts to engage families.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about how to involve families in their children's education and build strong partnerships between schools and families may benefit from attending Project Appleseed’s family engagement professional development.

Our Traveling Workshop is a one-day session and our Family Engagement Toolbox Training is two hours - both have highly effective transfer skills and knowledge. Project Appleseed’s workshops and online training provide a program for schools and communities that focuses on the techniques and skills in high-impact family engagement​ that has long-term benefits. 

Traveling Workshop

One-Day

Traveling Workshop

What are three essential aspects of​ parent engagement? 

Connect, engage and sustain.

Workshop In-person & Online

Research repeatedly correlates high-impact family engagement​ with student achievement, yet this strategy is rarely activated as an integral part of school improvement efforts. Our family engagement training provides strategies that are aligned with student learning and achievement. Schools organize parent responsibility with an effective model that is research-based, meets district, state and Title I ESSA mandates. You will leave the workshop with a multi-year plan and the tools to engage all families.

Upon completion of our professional development workshop,  participants will be able to identify parent engagement activities in their school and how to employ our Title I learning compact - the Parent Engagement Pledge. Participants will understand the importance of parent & family engagement, define parent engagement in schools and understand why it is important and describe the association between parent engagement in schools and student social, academic, and health outcomes. 

Professional Development Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Following this program, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the importance of parent & family engagement.


  • Define high-impact family engagement​ in schools and understand why it is important.


  • Describe the association between parent engagement in schools and student social, academic, and health outcomes.


  • Identify the essential aspects of parent engagement in schools.


  • Identify resources for assessing and promoting parent engagement in the Family Engagement Toolbox.


Traveling Workshop Program Agenda

Introduction                       30 min

Our Advocacy

National Signature Events

Learning Objectives

 

Connecting                        60 min

Acknowledging Cultural Differences

What Is Family High-Impact Engagement?

Title I Family Engagement

Barriers to Family Engagement

Activity #1. Connect Families

Engaging                            90 min

Six Slices of Family Engagement

Family Engagement Toolbox

Teacher Home Visits 

Activity #2. Engage Families   

 

Sustaining                         90 min 

Red Carpet Treatment

Activity #3. Sustain Engagement    

Activity #4. Family Engagement Action Plan             

Our Tools

  • Unlock the potential of parent engagement in your school community with the Family Engagement Toolbox. Our program provides a comprehensive implementation plan for a full school year, complete with tailored metrics for success based on our proven strategy

  • Take advantage of our partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to access top-of-the-line planning guides and resources based on the Six Slices of Parental Involvement framework and our Family Engagement Toolbox.

  • Distinguish yourself as a leader in parent engagement by earning Project Appleseed Certification, demonstrating your ability to navigate the complex challenges of parent engagement.

  • Stay current on the latest industry standards with a family engagement PowerPoint of the Six Slices of Family Engagement, including specific activities to mobilize families and enhance student outcomes.

  • Empower yourself and your school community by creating a customized 10-step Family Engagement Plan. Our program provides educators with the necessary tools to encourage, involve and measure parents' involvement at all levels.

Project Appleseed's Six Slices of Family Engagement

Scheduling Options:

  • One Day Session: We can schedule your workshop as a one-day event. Our in-person and on-line Traveling Workshop is normally held between 8:30am and 2:30pm (including lunch and breaks).

  • One Day Session Split in Two: Maybe the flexibility of two day workshop with 2 1/2 hour sessions at times that you choose (including breaks).

 

Participant Limit:

  • None. It is recommended that groups consist of people from the same school (school teams) or district.

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Our program and support is included 

  • Virtual follow-up sessions are available at no cost. These sessions are used to reinforce learning that took place in the Traveling Workshop. A virtual follow-up session is a 60- to 90-minute Zoom or phone meeting led by Kevin Walker. We want to ensure that what is learned in the Workshop will be applied correctly to participants’ work.

Video Confeence

Two-Hour

Toolbox Training

Family Engagement Toolbox Training: On-line

Revolutionize your school's family engagement and elevate student outcomes with the guidance of Project Appleseed's President and Founder, Kevin Walker. Our flexible professional development options, offered through Zoom sessions, allow you to schedule 2-hour training sessions tailored to your school's specific needs.

Transform your approach to parent engagement with our Family Engagement Toolbox. Designed for schools that want to mobilize family engagement and empower parents in their child's education, this program is a must-have. Each toolbox includes a personalized Parent Engagement Pledge and Parent Engagement Report Card, branded with your school's logo. Our research-based and effective model not only meets district, state and Title I ESSA mandates, but also helps schools organize parent responsibility for optimal results. Don't miss out on this opportunity to invest in your school's success for only $1,500.00!"

Project Appleseed Family Engagement Training
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The benefits of a two-hour Family Engagement Toolbox Training include:

  • Improved communication and collaboration between families and schools: The training can provide strategies and tools for effectively communicating and working together to support children's learning and development.

  • Increased involvement of families in their children's education: The training may encourage and empower families to take an active role in their children's education and advocate for their needs.

  • Enhanced understanding of the importance of high-impact family engagement​: The training may help participants understand the impact that family engagement can have on children's academic and social-emotional development, as well as their overall well-being.

  • Greater sense of community and support: The training may foster a sense of community and support among families and school staff, leading to a more positive and inclusive learning environment.

  • Improved outcomes for children: Research has shown that family engagement is positively correlated with children's academic achievement and success in school. A training in family engagement may help to improve outcomes for children by strengthening the connection between families and schools.

Family Engagement Toolbox Training 

Toolbox Training Program Agenda

Introduction                               10 min

Connecting                                       20 min

Title I Family Engagement

Engaging                                    60 min

Six Slices of Family Engagement

Family Engagement Toolbox

Parent Engagement Pledge

Parent Engagement Report Card

Signature Events

 

Sustaining                                        30 min 

10 Step Family Engagement Plan

  • Unlock the full potential of parent engagement in your school community with the Family Engagement Toolbox. With tailored metrics for success, this program is the key to empowering parents and improving student outcomes.

  • Elevate your parent engagement game with an overview of the Six Slices of Parental Involvement and expert guidance on how to effectively engage parents. Our custom solutions cater to the specific needs of your school or district.

  • Maximize the impact of Title I parental involvement by utilizing our resources to plan and evaluate your Title I Program.

  • Take your learning to the next level with our complimentary virtual follow-up session led by Kevin Walker. The 30-60 minute Zoom or phone meeting is meant to reinforce what is learned in the Toolbox Training and ensure successful implementation.

How can we help? Our staff will answer your questions.

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