Robert M. Ward, assistant principal of McKell Middle School
My name is Robert M. Ward and I serve as the assistant principal at McKell Middle School within the Greenup County School District. Both myself and our principal, Chris Ailster, are deeply invested in fostering meaningful relationships between our school and the families we serve.
Over the past year, I have been privileged to help lead our Family Engagement Action Team, a diverse group dedicated to creating a more welcoming, inclusive, and empowering environment for all families.
Our decision to prioritize family-friendly practices emerged from a keen awareness of our school community’s needs. This is a community where the phrase “It takes a village” is not just a platitude but a necessity. The diversity within our student body extends further than the grounds of McKell Middle School. The students at McKell Middle Schools and Greenup County Schools are the future of our community.
We saw that when families felt disconnected from the school, students struggled academically and socially. Conversely, when families felt supported and included, students thrived. The decision to focus on family engagement was not just about improving outcomes; it was about fostering a sense of belonging. We wanted every family to feel they were not just participants in their child’s education but valued partners in shaping our school culture.
To turn this vision into reality, we formed a team that embodies the diversity of our community. The group includes parents from varying socioeconomic backgrounds, teachers at different career stages, and administrative staff with decades of experience. Our first step was to listen. Through various surveys we revealed valuable insights, such as the need for better communication, more inclusive events, and greater support for families navigating challenging circumstances.
Armed with this feedback, we implemented several initiatives tailored to our community’s needs. We launched literacy nights to support academic growth at home, created family nights to empower parents to bond with their students, and organized events that celebrated the rich diversity within our school. These efforts were designed to build trust and strengthen relationships between families and staff.
When we began this work, we were unaware of the family-friendly certification process. However, as a district we delved deeper into family engagement strategies, and learned about the certification. The process intrigued us because it aligned with our goals and offered a framework to evaluate and enhance our efforts.
The certification process was both validating and challenging. Many of our existing practices already aligned with the requirements, such as creating welcoming environments and hosting family-focused events. However, the process also revealed areas for improvement. For example, we recognized the need to enhance our communication strategies. In response, we introduced newsletters sent through email, increased the frequency of parent notifications about all aspects of the school and community, created multiple family engagement events, and created events that also involved the community.
Achieving certification was a significant milestone, but we know that sustaining this work requires ongoing commitment. To keep the momentum alive, we are embedding family engagement into the fabric of our school culture. This includes regular professional development sessions for staff on best practices for family engagement, biannual family engagement surveys, and gathering community feedback.
This journey has reminded us of the power of collaboration. When families and schools work together, the possibilities are endless. We are not just educating students; we are building a community that supports, uplifts, and empowers every child to thrive.
Each year, the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence awards Family Friendly Schools Certification to a group of schools and early care centers. This school and 53 others earned the certification in 2024. For more details on Family Friendly Schools Certification, visit the Prichard Committee’s family engagement website.
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