MEMPHIS, TN (MSCS) -– Tuesday, March 18, marked another milestone for a group of Hispanic parents as they graduated from “Families Connect,” a Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) program that is dedicated to engaging parents in their children’s education, among other things.

The graduation ceremony, which took place at Kingsbury High School, was filled with joy, hope, and gratitude as 20 parents received their diplomas. They were accompanied by their families and friends, including the school’s principal, along with some of the teachers/mentors and staff members who supported them throughout the course. 

“Your dedication to your child’s education is truly inspiring. Over the seven sessions (duration of the program), you have taken important steps to strengthen your connection with your child’s learning journey. Your commitment makes a difference and we celebrate you all today,” said Kingsbury High Principal Shenar Miller.

Some of the graduates spoke about their experiences with Families Connect and shared with the audience how meaningful the program was to them. They also extended an invitation to other parents to register and learn everything they need to guide and help their kids in order to succeed in school.  

“I am happy because she’s setting a good example for me and leading me down a good path,” Evelyn said of her mother, María de Jesús Ramírez-Pérez.

Mrs. Ramírez said Families Connect helped her learn many things about the school system and beyond, and that she now has more knowledge and tools to ensure her children “have a good job and a good future.”

“Families Connect is a program where parents engage with the students’ education. They also learn how to navigate the system so they can better support their child,” said Elvia Vieyra, an advisor with the Department of Family Engagement at MSCS. She added, “Families Connect also builds a strong communication between the parents and the school. This is very important not only for the students but for the parents as well; it is a program that helps the families work together with the school.” 

According to Vieyra, Families Connect (“Conectando Familias”) was implemented several years ago by the Department of Family Engagement, in partnership with Multilingual Learners. The program’s primary goal is to foster strong connections between schools and parents, particularly those who may face barriers to engagement due to linguistic and cultural differences, the economic background, negative perceptions about the school, and the lack of knowledge about how to become involved. 

Parents meet once a month for eight months. Each session lasts 1.5-2 hours, during which parents participate in discussions and exercises based on the program’s curriculum themes:

• Parent Engagement.
• Understanding the roles of school staff.
• Supporting children’s education at home and school.
• Power School.
• Creating a positive environment at home.
• High School/College Readiness.

“In 2017, I established the Families Connect program as a labor of love to serve my own community in response to the real and urgent need I saw for families to have access to resources in their home language and feel supported as they navigate the school system,” said MSCS’ Bilingual Communications Manager Yesenia Ubaldo, the developer of the initiative. “It means so much to see this program still growing and making a difference. I’m incredibly proud of our Family Engagement Department for carrying this mission forward, especially in communities that have too often been overlooked. Their commitment continues to open doors and build trust in our school district,” Ubaldo added.

“If we’re committed, we can achieve a lot. I come to be an example for my children; when I have to demand something from my children, they know I'm already doing my part. Therefore, I would totally recommend other parents to keep coming,” said Verónica Rodríguez, who expressed her gratitude to Mrs. Watson for her teachings and dedication, and to the rest of the team that is involved in this program.