Since 2007, a cross sector of state, local and community partners have joined together to convene a statewide family engagement conference for families and practitioners throughout Georgia. Known as the Georgia Agencies for Family Engagement (GAFE) Network, this workshop will focus on the collaborative relationship between education and non profit agencies that work together to strengthen practices and increase equity through effective engagement, and its direct connection to student learning. During this session, the Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Parent Teacher Association and United Way for Greater Atlanta will discuss its partnership, lessons learned and showcase programming that has supported students, families and schools from a state, district and school level.

Laura Miller, serves as the Director of Family Engagement and Leadership for United Way of Greater Atlanta. In this capacity, Laura provides strategic direction for family engagement programming focused on improving outcomes for children and supporting families through a two-generational lens. Prior to joining United Way, Laura was with Georgia Public Broadcasting, where she developed programming for parents, caregivers and educators of school-age children.
Involved in PTA since 1998, Donna has held positions at the local, council, district, and state levels, and served as President of Georgia PTA from 2011 - 2013 and most recently as the Family Engagement Chair. She serves on the Georgia Statewide Family Engagement Steering Committee, now known as Georgia Agencies for Family Engagement (GAFE). Donna has served as an organizational member of the State Superintendent's Parent Advisory Council. With almost twenty years of leadership experience in non-profit board management and as a 2010 Georgia Education Fellowship Policy Fellow, Donna is committed to building collaborative partnerships - to connect education leaders to strengthen student learning, academic achievement, and school improvement, as well as college and career-workforce readiness.