Breakout Session 6.4 Building Data Literacy through Two-Way Family Communication: A District-Wide Contact Log Initiative
This session will showcase our effort to enhance family engagement and data-driven decision-making through a unique contact log system. Unlike traditional systems, this contact log allows all staff members, including administrators, teachers, counselors, and social workers, to view logs made by their colleagues, fostering transparency and collaboration.
A Microsoft Power App was made for school staff to enter their contacts with families and a Power BI report is used to share key data points such as positive contacts vs. concerns, the percentage of families contacted, methods of contact used, and reasons for contact. As part of the implementation, we are coaching a cohort of school leaders through the inquiry cycle, focusing on goal setting, monitoring progress, and guiding staff conversations. We will also share strategies for gaining staff buy-in and aligning these efforts with school-wide goals.
Participants will discuss how to implement a collaborative two-way family contact log system (with or without Microsoft!), collect the data that's most important to you and your efforts, coach staff through the inquiry cycle, goal setting, and monitoring progress, and we'll share practical strategies for fostering staff conversations around this initiative. Presenters: Ben Cawley, Christina Wilson