Welcome to the 2nd issue of

Dear Families, Educators, and Community Partners: Welcome to the second edition of our family and community engagement newsletter—now officially named the Engagement Exchange!

We’re excited to share not just updates and resources, but also a renewed focus on building meaningful partnerships between home, school, and community.

The name Engagement Exchange reflects our commitment to two-way communication, shared learning, and collaboration. We believe that strong family-school partnerships are essential for student success, and that starts with sharing ideas, celebrating wins, and working together.

In this issue, you’ll find:

Highlights from recent family events and initiatives
Tips and tools for supporting learning at home
Opportunities to get involved and make your voice heard
A sneak peek at upcoming events and programs

We hope this new format and name resonate with you, and we welcome your feedback! If there’s something you’d love to see featured or a story worth sharing, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for being an essential part of our learning community. Let’s continue the exchange!

Warmly,

Dr. Lanisha Makle-Ridley and Jeannette Mejias

Co-Project Directors

New Jersey Family Engagement Hub

Dr. Lanisha - Makle Ridley

Lanisha Makle-Ridley

Jeannette Mejias

Hub Updates & Community Highlights

April Webinar Recap: Family Math

On April 8, 2025, the New Jersey Family Engagement Hub, in partnership with NAFSCE and The Center for Family Math, launched a three-part webinar series led by Led by Donna Johnson, MS, and Holly Kreider, Director of the Center for Family Math at NAFSCE. The first session brought together parents, educators, and community leaders for a

dynamic conversation on creating a home environment that supports student success. Participants gained practical tools for promoting well-being, boosting family engagement, and strengthening communication between home and school. The event highlighted the vital role families play in shaping learning and offered actionable strategies to support children’s academic journeys.

Don’t miss what’s next! Check the Upcoming Events section for more from SPAN and New Jersey Family Engagement Hub!

Parents as Champions for Healthy Schools Virtual Workshop

On May 5, 2025, Kasey Dudley led a three-day virtual workshop series, Parents as Champions for Healthy Schools, offered to both morning groups on Monday and evening groups on Thursday. The sessions focused on engaging families in student success through the WSCC (Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child) Model. Participants explored how health impacts achievement, how school systems function, ways to support learning at home, and the vital role of parents in fostering healthy school environments.

Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our progress, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved!

Subscribe Today!

New Jersey Family Engagement Hub Listening Sessions

On May 6, 2025, and May 20, 2025, the New Jersey Family Engagement Hub organized online listening sessions to introduce participants to its mission and activities. These sessions help attendees understand what the New Jersey Family Engagement Hub does and how it supports collaboration between families, schools, and community organizations. They also showcase the organization's partnerships with other groups and individuals in the community. Participants learn about opportunities to collaborate, engage, and stay involved with New Jersey Family Engagement Hub initiatives. The goal is to foster connection, information sharing, and community-driven action across New Jersey.

Learn more about the New Jersey Family Engagement Hub

Advisory Committee Update

On April 29, 2025, the New Jersey Family Engagement Hub held its second advisory committee meeting, focusing on advancing its work through three subcommittees. The first subcommittee focuses on information dissemination, emphasizing the importance of timely, accessible communication that fosters trust, bridges language barriers, and promotes engagement gaps and

counters misinformation through direct connections with families. The second focuses on developing a Family Engagement Framework for New Jersey by identifying core principles and state-specific needs, while the third centers on resource sharing to support families and stakeholders. The Advisory Committee is going on a retreat at the New Jersey Principals & Supervisors Association: FEA Conference Center on September 13, 2025.

We’re inviting more parents to help shape our efforts!

Learn more about joining the Advisory Committee and apply today.

Get Involved!

Spotlight On! The Partners Driving NJFEHUB Forward

Workshop Series Kickoff with: Paterson Education Fund

The New Jersey Family Engagement Hub, in collaboration with Paterson Education Fund, launched an exciting four-part interactive workshop series led by Rosie Grant. This dynamic series is designed to equip families and community members with the tools to better support students and engage meaningfully with schools.

The first session on May 5, 2025, Parents and Community Advocacy: Asking the Right Questions, helped participants better navigate school systems by teaching them how to ask meaningful, strategic questions and engage effectively with educators. Using real-life scenarios and interactive dialogue, attendees gained the confidence and skills to advocate for their children and communities.

In the second session, Parents and Community Advocacy: Understanding the School Budget on May 27, 2025, participants learned how to decode school budget data to better understand district priorities and how those priorities affect their child’s education. Stay tuned for the third workshop, Restorative Practices and School Climate: Restorative Practices Introduction on June 10, 2025, and the fourth and final workshop in the series, Student Success and Well Being: The College and Career Track on June 16, 2025.

Join us for the next sessions in the series:

Restorative Practices and School Climate: June 10, 2025

Student Success and Well-Being: College & Career Track: June 16, 2025

Family Math Webinar Series Kickoff with: NAFSCE Center for Family Math

On May 8, 2025, the New Jersey Family Engagement Hub, in collaboration with NAFSCE and The Center for Family Math, hosted the first session of its three-part Family Math webinar series. Led by Donna Johnson, MS, and Holly Kreider, Director of the Center for Family Math at NAFSCE. This engaging session featured experts from the Center for Family Math and the Erikson Institute.

Family Math, focused on how meaningful family engagement can strengthen math teaching and learning during the elementary years. Topics included understanding Common Core math, offering effective homework help, incorporating fun at-home math games, and accessing a variety of practical resources for both families and schools.

On May 27, 2025, the New Jersey Family Engagement Hub, in partnership with NAFSCE and The Center for Family Math, presented the second installment of its three-part Family Math webinar series. This dynamic session, led by Donna Johnson, MS, and Jennifer McCray, PhD, featured insights from experts at the Center for Family Math and the Erikson Institute.

Family Math during elementary school, how can I help? This engaging webinar explored effective ways families can be involved in math at home. Experts shared hands-on strategies for engaging children in math, addressed common concerns about the Common Core and homework, and introduced a variety of resources—including fun, easy-to-play math games—to strengthen the connection between school and home learning. Stay tuned for the next installment in the series this September, which will focus on family math strategies for high school students.

Featured Articles and Resources

Are you looking for powerful ways to engage families in their children's education and boost student success? Discover six impactful strategies educators can use to build strong, collaborative partnerships with families in this insightful ParentSquare article.

Engel, Katherine. “Building Bridges: Empowering Families to Support Their Child’s Learning.” ParentSquare, 11 Jan. 2024, www.parentsquare.com/blog/building-bridges-empowering-families-to-support-their-childs-learning/.

Do you know how to effectively advocate for your child at school?

If you want to better support your child at school, this Reading Rockets article offers practical, empowering tips every parent should know.

How parents can be advocates for their children | Reading Rockets. (n.d.). Reading Rockets. https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/advocacy/articles/how-parents-can-be-advocates-their-children