In March, DC Bilingual hosted educators from several schools for a two-day Escuelita session called Transforming School Communication & Family Engagement. We were excited to welcome educators from DC International, Elsie Whitlow Stokes, Yu Ying, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Esperanza Academy (from Louisiana). Participants spent the two days learning about our approach to family engagement and communication, exploring the systems, philosophy, and practices that help build strong partnerships with families.
Through presentations, attending in-person family engagement activities, and collaborative discussions, visiting educators gained practical strategies and tools to bring back to their own school communities. The experience also offered a chance to see firsthand the care, intentionality, and commitment that DC Bilingual educators bring to their work with students and families every day.
On the first day, educators had an opportunity to learn about the vision, mission & history of DC Bilingual and our family engagement program. They explored the evolution of family engagement practices and the current ecosystem of our strong program. On the second day, participants started bright and early with the opportunity to see firsthand a First Friday, with live music on the front lawn and Cafecito where they were able to connect with families and staff. Then everyone learned about the academic aspects of our family engagement program. In the afternoon, visitors witnessed firsthand the Family Food Market to see the coordination behind this beautiful endeavor. Finally, participants spent time transferring the learning and creating some initial plans to bring back to their schools.
A heartfelt thank you to the many staff members, teachers, and teams who contributed their time, expertise, and hospitality to make this Escuelita experience possible. Your dedication helps extend the impact of our work far beyond DC Bilingual and strengthens connections across schools in our community.
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