Powerful Partnerships - by Karen Mapp & Ilene Carver & Jessica Lander (Paperback)

About the Book

Provides guidance on how to plan engagement opportunities and events throughout the school year that undergird effective partnerships between families and schools.

Book Synopsis

Teachers and administrators will learn how to create the respectful, trusting relationships with families necessary to build the educational partnerships that best support children's learning. The book will cover the mindset and core beliefs required to bond with families, and will provide guidance on how to plan engagement opportunities and events throughout the school year that undergird effective partnerships between families and schools.

Review Quotes

"Most teachers say that their number-one challenge is connecting with students' families. If you agree, this book is for you. Not only does it answer your every question with thought-provoking advice and practical tips, it also explains the research behind the advice. This book is the course on family engagement that you never got to take!"
-- Anne T. Henderson, Senior Consultant, National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement

"Powerful Partnerships is a to-the-point, engaging guide to building genuine, effective relationships with our students' families. 'When we build relationships based on trust and mutual respect, our children benefit enormously'--and Powerful Partnerships shows us how to accomplish exactly that."
-- James Flanagan, Fifth-Grade Teacher, Girard College/Residential School

"Powerful Partnerships makes it so very clear that family engagement is not just a 'nice-to-have component' but rather a 'must-have essential' for maximum student achievement. Read it and become enlightened and encouraged."
-- Phyllis C. Hunter, Author of the quote, "Reading is the new Civil Right!"

"Teachers are in the very best position to promote and sustain the efficacy of families, which translates into strong school-family partnerships and, most important, better learning outcomes for every student. Powerful Partnerships is at once practical, thought-provoking, and inspiring. I strongly recommend that every educator read this book."
-- Dr. Steve Constantino, Author of Engage Every Family: Five Simple Principles, Chief Academic Officer, Commonwealth of Virginia

"This guide captures the voices and experiences of practitioners in a way that sets a clear path to building engagement. The personal stories of transformation speak to the power of partnering with families. This guide is essential not just for new teachers but also for veteran teachers looking to expand their practice. Well done!"
-- Michele P. Brooks, Principal Consultant, Transformative Solutions in Education

"This is a great resource for educators wanting to forge authentic partnerships with families. The book intertwines research, practical strategies, and personal stories to provide a clear picture of how to build school-family partnerships that lead to improved student achievement."
-- Oscar E. Cruz, President and CEO, Families in Schools

About the Author

Karen L. Mapp, Ed.D., is a senior lecturer on education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and the faculty director of the Education Policy and Management Master's Program. Over the past twenty years, Mapp's research and practice has been on the cultivation of partnerships among families, community members and educators that support student achievement and school improvement. She is co-author of several books including the seminal Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family/School Partnerships.

Ilene Carver has been a teacher in the Boston Public Schools for the past 20 years. Ilene was a co-chair of the Family and Community Education sub- committee for the Knowledge and Skills of Professional Teaching project that contributed to the development of the standards for family engagement in Massachusetts public schools.

Jessica Lander is a teacher and writer living in Cambridge. She studied anthropology at Princeton University and recently received a master's degree in education policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.