Killeen ISD's commitment to strengthening family-school partnerships has earned national recognition.
Andrea Dykes, Parenting Specialist for Federal and State Programs, recently accepted the Family Engagement Champion Award on behalf of Killeen ISD during the Family Leadership Summit in San Diego, California. The award recognizes leaders and organizations that create sustainable systems supporting meaningful parent engagement and family advocacy.
According to Family Leadership Director Samantha Pryor-Miller, the award honors "fearless leaders who create systems to support and advocate for parent engagement initiatives." Killeen ISD was recognized for successfully launching the Parenting Partners program at 46 campuses and empowering Parent Liaisons to facilitate family engagement workshops at both the campus and district levels.
"This recognition reflects the hard work of our families, Parent Liaisons, and campuses," Dykes said. "In August, we trained 46 Parent Liaisons and launched 46 Parenting Partners programs across the district."
Throughout the school year, the district's implementation of Parenting Partners demonstrated measurable success in building stronger relationships between schools and families. Family Leadership received ongoing updates highlighting increased family participation and expanded volunteer opportunities across Killeen ISD schools.
In addition to receiving the award, Dykes was invited to serve on a national panel highlighting successful family engagement programs. She shared Killeen ISD's experience implementing Parenting Partners districtwide during its first year and discussed the collaborative approach that helped all 46 campuses successfully launch the program.
The panel explored strategies for creating, sustaining, and leading effective family engagement efforts. Dykes emphasized the role of collaboration among Parent Liaisons, ongoing district support, and a shared commitment to building meaningful relationships with families.
"We are a large district, Parenting Partners was a new program, and all 46 campuses successfully launched it during the first year," Dykes said. "Our success came from working together, supporting one another, and believing in the power of family engagement."
The Summit's theme, Together We Thrive, reflected a core principle of Killeen ISD's approach to family engagement: student success is strengthened when schools and families work together as partners. Dykes said the experience reinforced the importance of investing in relationships, supporting families, and creating opportunities for meaningful collaboration between schools and the communities they serve.
"Our message to families is simple: keep showing up and partnering with us," Dykes said. "Our students need all of us working together to help them succeed."