Dr. Lindsey Whitley, associate superintendent for communications and community engagement at Cumberland County Schools, told listeners on the "Let's Talk Education" radio program that the district is expanding family-facing services, including a Cumberland Family Academy, a volunteer family ambassador program and a family engagement bus funded by ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds expected to begin visits this fall.

Whitley said the programs are meant to reduce barriers to participation and improve student outcomes. "When families and educators join forces, amazing things happen for our young people," she said, describing research and district experience that link family engagement with lower absenteeism, fewer disciplinary incidents and higher student achievement.

Cumberland Family Academy began as a series of pandemic-era Zoom sessions and has since grown to include in-person and virtual workshops. Whitley said the district offers sessions on topics families requested through surveys and focus groups — examples she named included math and literacy support, internet safety, money management and access-to-college sessions such as financial-aid and scholarship guidance. The district also records some sessions for on-demand viewing as "Throwback Thursdays," she said.

The family ambassador program places a volunteer ambassador at each school to meet monthly with the communications and community engagement team, bring back resources and share information through grassroots channels the district might not reach otherwise. "They have thought of places and ways to share information that we never would have thought of," Whitley said.

Whitley described the planned family engagement bus as a mobile resource outfitted with internet access and laptops that can stop in neighborhoods to help with tasks such as kindergarten registration and financial-aid applications. "What if you didn't have to leave your neighborhood, but we decided to come to you?" she asked. She stated the bus is funded by ESSER funds and that the district hopes to launch it after the summer.

Whitley framed the communications department as a district-level champion that supports school-based efforts. She said Cumberland County Schools has 86 schools and "6,000-plus employees" and that district and school staff aim for at least four high-yield family engagement events per school each year that align with school improvement goals.

Hosts also encouraged families to use district resources and channels. Dr. Shanessa Fenner, co-host of "Let's Talk Education," directed listeners to the district website for event listings and resources: "Check Cumberland County Schools website at www.ccs.k12.nc.us."

Whitley closed by urging families to give what they can based on their capacity and to stay involved in ways that fit their schedules. "For one family, it may be that being engaged is making sure little Johnny gets on the bus, and gets to school on time every day," she said. "Some weeks, that may be all you have to give. But guess what? That's huge."