A group of adults and kids read together

Faculty and staff at Picadome Elementary (Fayette County) focus on student-led conferences in family-friendly locations. Photo courtesy Tiffany Cook

At Picadome Elementary (Fayette County), we believe a strong partnership between families and the school is essential for student success.

Our Family Friendly Certification journey reflects our ongoing commitment to strengthening these vital connections. While Picadome has a history of community engagement, redistricting in 2016 presented a unique opportunity to deepen our work with families, particularly with the addition of African refugee families to our school community. Then-Principal Jennifer Hutchison, now chief of schools for Fayette County Public Schools, and Joni Meade, a University of Kentuky College of Education clinical instructor, recognized the importance of building trust and relationships with these new families. Their collaboration launched a decade-long partnership that laid the foundation for Picadome’s Family Friendly philosophy.

During the 2023-2024 school year, under the leadership of our family resource center coordinator, Shelli Gregory, we pursued Family Friendly Schools Certification to further enhance inclusivity for all families. This process of reflection, dialogue, adjustments to existing practices, and information gathering culminated in our successful certification. More importantly, it shifted our approach to family engagement, fostering two-way communication and prioritizing listening over teaching. We now focus on student-led conferences at family-friendly locations, ensuring translations are readily available, proactively breaking down barriers, and helping our teachers and staff understand the strengths and resilience our students bring, while also acknowledging the challenges they may face.

For Picadome, the Family Friendly Schools Certification was an opportunity to reflect, refine our vision, and transform our thinking about how we best serve our students and families. As a leader, I believe there is no more valuable investment of time and energy.

Tiffany Cook is the principal of Picadome Elementary School.

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.