Your back-to-school data checklist After years as a student and educator, it’s my first back-to-school season as a mom, and I’ve got all the feels. But I’ve also got a checklist handy of all the things I need to do and buy. No matter whether you’re a student, educator, parents, or nonprofit staff, this is… Continue reading Your back-to-school data checklist
Family engagement metrics that matter As a mom of a rising kindergartener, I can’t believe that back-to-school season is already upon us. I’ve written before about our journey finding a kindergarten placement for my daughter. Thankfully, that’s been resolved, but it’s been weird navigating this from the parent – and not the school – side. … Continue reading Family engagement metrics that matter
Why life’s been humbling lately When I worked in schools, I knew many kids being raised by someone other than their biological parent. Unless they told me directly, I didn’t always know why these families looked the way they did or the circumstances they were going through. When I started in social work research over… Continue reading Why life’s been humbling lately
When numbers help, and when stories matter more I know I talk about data … a lot. But for me, it’s really not about the numbers. It’s not about the spreadsheets (I do still really love spreadsheets though). It’s not about the reports and fancy graphs and charts. It’s about the people behind those numbers. … Continue reading When numbers help, and when stories matter more
Nothing like motherhood to change your perspective It was about 3 days into being a mom that I thought, “How could I have ever asked a mom to go to a PTO meeting!?” I laugh at myself now because I was clearly not inviting any newly postpartum parents to an event, but that moment was… Continue reading Nothing like motherhood to change your perspective
10 things I’ve learned in 10 years of business Everyone loves a countdown post, right? As I recently celebrated 10 years of being in business, it felt fitting to count down the top 10 things I’ve learned over the years! The past 10 years have been an amazing, winding journey, and I’m so grateful to… Continue reading 10 things I’ve learned in 10 years of business
The Engage with Data blog is back Oh hi! [waves awkwardly] I know, it’s been a minute since I last wrote. Back then, I was raising an infant, with no childcare, in the middle of a pandemic. Let’s just say that life felt a little like this: (Parents/caregivers – I know you know.) To survive… Continue reading The Engage with Data blog is back!
A gut check While I am lucky that I get to consult with schools and districts in their work with families, it isn’t often that I get to engage with students and families directly (especially since COVID derailed my weekly mentoring sessions at a high school here in Columbus). So I was especially delighted this… Continue reading A gut check
Preparing for Another Uncertain School Year I think we had all hoped that after two school years disrupted by COVID-19, the 2021-2022 school year could be a return to “normal.” Yet with the Delta variant surging throughout the country and children under 12 still unvaccinated, it’s becoming clear that educators and families are in for… Continue reading Preparing for Another Uncertain Year
Reframing data analysis as meaning-making This summer on the Engage with Data blog, I’m exploring different ways to answer the question: “So what?” My goal is to remind us of the human element of data — we are in the field of student and family engagement, after all! But I do get it – data… Continue reading Reframing data analysis as meaning-making
