Academic Parent Teacher Teams (APTT) 

The Hawai’i Statewide Family Engagement Center (HFEC) is pleased to present a mini professional development series to showcase evidence-based family engagement programs and strategies to schools and complex areas across Hawai’i.

View Recording 

Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (APTT) is a model of family engagement that is grounded in the notion that schools can thrive when families and teachers work together, as genuine partners, to maximize student learning inside and outside of school. By implementing APTT, schools take responsibility for engaging in a collaborative process to build strong relationships with families, and teachers equip and support families to make concrete contributions to student growth and achievement. Participants will walk away with a sound understanding of the components and essential elements of the APTT model and how it works in schools, the roles and responsibilities of families and educators in home-school partnerships, and the training and support WestEd offers to help you bring it all together.

After the webinar, participants will be equipped with: (1) Strategies for building family capacity, (2) Knowledge of family assets (funds of knowledge), (3) Approaches to build trusting relationships with families, and (4) Effective family engagement strategies.

Featuring Maria Paredes, Annabel Lee, and Sara Martinez

Dr. Paredes is a Senior Engagement Manager at WestEd with a focus on family engagement. Paredes works collaboratively with schools, districts, and state agencies to help build readiness and capacity for implementation of the Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (APTT) model of family engagement. For 25 years, Paredes has been a teacher, district administrator, researcher and apparent educator focused on transforming the way families participate as partners in education. The APTT model she developed in 2009 has provided a system and opened doors for parents and teachers to work as a team to impact student learning and achievement. Paredes has dedicated her lifework to increasing equity in education and improving opportunities for students and families in underserved communities. The APTT model is currently being used in 26 states and over 1,500 schools across the US, offering systemic solutions and empowering educators and families to work hand in hand to improve academic outcomes for students.

Annabel Lee is a family engagement facilitator for Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (APTT) at WestEd. She provides onsite and virtual family engagement support through professional development and coaching. She works collaboratively with schools, districts and states to support teachers and leaders in implementing effective family engagement practices that lead to equitable outcomes for students. She currently works with schools to implement APTT in California, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Washington. She has previously worked with teachers and leaders on developing reading and math curriculum, designing assessments, and conducting instructional rounds. Prior to WestEd, Lee was an elementary school principal, EL resource teacher, and classroom teacher.

Sara Martinez is part of the Academic Parent-Teacher Team (APTT) at WestEd. As a family engagement facilitator, her focus is to collaborate with districts and schools to improve home and school partnerships in underserved communities by developing the capacity of educators and families to work together. She provides districts and schools with her expertise and experience in the area of effective family engagement and school improvement, with a focus on English learners. Martinez provides training, technical assistance, and coaching focused on building the capacity of districts and schools to effectively engage families in a collaborative process as true partners in academic success. Prior to joining WestEd, Martinez served as a bilingual elementary school teacher, where her peers selected her a 2000-2001 Teacher of the Year. Martinez also served as an English Learner District Specialist and English Learner Coordinator.

This webinar will consist of a one-hour presentation and 15 minutes of Q&A. Attendance is free, but limited to 300.

Registration is required.

Learn More!