In this heartfelt and insightful episode of The ParentCamp Podcast, hosts April F. Draine, Julie Pile and Laura Gilchrist dive into the transformative power of building relationships between parents, teachers, and schools. They explore how intentional, meaningful connections can go beyond traditional family engagement events to create ongoing impacts that resonate with children, families, and educators alike.
Through personal stories, practical advice, and a deep focus on universal human needs, the hosts shed light on the importance of creating opportunities for relationships to grow. Whether it’s through proactive parent-teacher conversations, collaborative newsletters, or parent-led spaces for shared experiences, they discuss how these interactions can foster trust, open doors for new opportunities, and build thriving “villages” that support students and communities. They also share tips on bridging the gap at different educational stages—from elementary to high school—and even offer guidance for engaging parents at the college level.
The episode ends with a beautiful quote from Anaïs Nin: “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” The discussion underscores that relationships are the cornerstone of building strong, supportive environments where everyone can thrive.
Key Takeaways:
- Meaningful relationships require intentionality, respect, and opportunities for connection.
- Small moments of connection can yield significant, long-term impacts.
- Building a village around children ensures a better future for both students and their communities.
Key Quotes:
- “Relationships are the key to building supportive communities and thriving children.”
- “A small but intentional event can lead to lifelong impacts for families.”
Show Notes:
- Episode Title: Purposeful Time and Space for Relationship Building
- Hosts: April F. Draine
- Guest: Julie Pile, President, ParentCamp and Laura Gilchrist, Vice President, ParentCamp
- Topics Discussed:
- The distinction between instant-impact vs. ongoing-impact family engagement events.
- The benefits of proactive relationship-building between parents and teachers.
- Challenges and solutions for maintaining parent engagement at the high school level.
- Real-life stories of successful parent-teacher collaboration.
- Insights into the universal human need for connection and trust.
- Resources Mentioned:
- Universal Human Needs – Center for Nonviolent Communication – https://www.cnvc.org/
- Return on Relationships by Ted Rubin and Kathryn Rose
- Smore – https://www.smore.com/
- Call to Action:
- Visit the ParentCamp website (https://www.parentcamp.org/) to learn more and bring ParentCamp to your school or district
- Sign up for the ParentCamp Newsletter – http://cerkl.com/org/profile.php?id=1999
- Join us for our monthly Virtual ParentCamp – Sign-up for our Mighty Networks Community – https://parentcamp.mn.co/share/fgIj8OGPqR6TTW4O?utm_source=manual
- Share your experiences with family-school partnerships on social media using #ParentCamp #TheParentCampPodcast
- Connect with Us:
- ParentCamp’s Website: www.parentcamp.org
- ParentCamp’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ParentCamp
- ParentCamp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentcamp
- ParentCamp Twitter: https://x.com/ParentCamp
- ParentCamp LinedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/parentcamp
- ParentCamp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentcampglobal/
- Julie Pile LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliapile/
- Julie Pile Twitter: https://x.com/juliepile
- Laura Gilchrist LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauragilchristedu/
- Laura Gilchrist Twitter: https://x.com/LauraGilchrist4
- April F. Draine Linktree – https://linktr.ee/aprilfdraine
For more information and to listen to the episode visit Apple, Spotify or on ParentCamp’s Podcast YouTube Playlist.
#ParentCamp #TheParentCampPodcast #VirtualParentCamp #Purpose #Connect #Strengthen #Collaborate #FSCE #FamilySchoolCommunityEngagement #FamilyEngagement #ParentEngagement #BuildingRelationships #Contribute #Education #SchoolCommunity #EducationPodcast
#EducationMatters #ReturnOnRelationships #VillageSupport
