Student success doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens when schools and families join forces. Research consistently shows that when families are actively engaged in education, students see improved grades, better attendance, and higher graduation rates.
Ingham ISD Deputy Superintendent Dr. Sandee Donald is helping lead this conversation statewide. In a recent video, she and other Michigan education leaders underscored a critical truth: family engagement is not an add-on, it’s essential.
“When families are part of the equation, outcomes improve,” Dr. Donald shared. The challenge, she explained, is making sure family and community partnerships are deeply embedded in schools, not treated as just another initiative.
The message is clear — strong family-school connections benefit everyone. From early learning through graduation, authentic engagement creates a foundation where students feel supported, schools thrive, and communities grow stronger.
Recent Stories:
What happens when educators from different schools and communities get in the same room? Ideas travel. Questions get bigger. Practice gets stronger. Recent professional learning opportunities in early childhood literacy and secondary mathematics show how collaboration helps knowledge move across classrooms, schools and communities throughout the Ingham ISD service area.
Seven Wilson Talent Center students are taking their engineering and construction skills beyond the classroom through the ACE Mentor Program at Mayotte Group Architects. Over 15 weeks, they’ll explore careers across the building industry while tackling a real-world design challenge: creating a brand-new elementary school.
