This video is available as a NAESPA membership benefit or for a limited time as a conference attendee.
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Family Engagement Feels Hard Because it IS Hard
Family engagement is hard work! Raising kids is hard work! Working together is hard work! When we begin our work with families with validation instead of blame or frustration, we can get so much farther. 41% of caregivers say that most days they are so stressed they cannot function. This is critical information for public educators, because, as the report states: children of caregivers who are struggling with stress and mental health are prone to cognitive, academic, and interpersonal struggles. This session will present ideas and information on a family engagement strategy that is focused on stress relief, regulation, and reconnection. We will highlight research and results behind using validation and restoration with families as the path for family efforts that most directly support improved student attendance, regulation, and behavior.
This talk was presented at:
2026 National ESEA Conference
February 2026
in
Denver, CO
For more information:
Ilovefrankly.com
Speakers
Emilly Roden
A former classroom teacher and educational consultant, Emily Roden has spent her entire professional career focused on improving outcomes for children. After becoming a parent in 2008, Roden personally and professionally explored the impactful role that families play in student achievement. Recognizing a gap in current research-based tools to support family engagement in public schools, Roden gathered a team of developers, filmmakers, and early childhood experts and founded ReadyRosie, a comprehensive family engagement solution. Now as a part of the Teaching Strategies family, the ReadyRosie family engagement tools are being implemented by over 10,000 schools and programs across the country. The innovative work of Roden and the ReadyRosie team has been highlighted at the White House Summit on Early Education, the Clinton Global Initiative, the LEGO Foundation Idea Conference and in multiple publications and journals. Roden has become a leader in promoting transformative family engagement and now, additionally, speaks locally and nationally to encourage other social impact entrepreneurs.
Jon Lasser
Jon Lasser is a University Distinguished and Regents’ professor in the School Psychology Program at Texas State University. He holds a master's degree in Human Sexuality Education (University of Pennsylvania) and a doctorate in School Psychology (University of Texas). His research interests include, parenting, and child/adolescent development, and applied professional ethics. He co-authored Tech Generation: Raising Balanced Kids in a Hyper Connected World (with Mike Brooks, Oxford University Press) and School Psychologist as Counselor (with Cindy Plotts, NASP) and several children’s books with the American Psychological Association’s Magination Press, including Grow Happy, Grow Grateful, Grow Kind, and What Boys Do.
Jonathan Armstrong
Jonathan Armstrong has supported diverse families in one of Texas's largest school districts. He leads family events, family initiatives, and mentorship programs across the district.
ESEA Network
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators is dedicated to building the capacity of education professionals to provide disadvantaged children with a high quality education. Their ESEA Network website provides a host of resources to educators at all levels.
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About Us
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (formerly the National Title I Association) is dedicated to building the capacity of education professionals to provide disadvantaged children with a high quality education. Their ESEA Network website provides a host of resources to educators at all levels.
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