When families are engaged in their child’s education, the children:

• Achieve higher grades
• Attend school regularly
• Display better social skills
• Graduate and pursue post-secondary learning

Children from diverse cultural backgrounds tend to do better when families and professionals collaborate to bridge the gap between the culture at home and the culture at school. The family liaisons help build that bridge. The family liaison connects families to the resources and services they need to thrive.

Who are Family Liaisons?

Family liaisons are school staff members who work anywhere from 4 hours a week to 40 hours a week. They are knowledgeable about school curricula, child development, family dynamics, district wide programs, services, resources and community resources. All family liaisons speak English and often speak an additional language. They represent many cultures and ethnicities. Family liaisons support all families and school staff by helping:

• Facilitate communication
• Build relationships
• Make families feel welcome, trusted and valued
• Provide FCPS and human service’s resources and information
• Encourage parent engagement in their children’s education
• Connect parents to what their children are learning
• Promote understanding of families’ cultural diversity

What Does a Family Liaison Do?

A family liaison may be found in the front office, an office or walking the halls. She or he:

• Organizes or facilitates parent classes
• Arranges for interpreters
• Helps report student progress
• Explains the school’s methods or practices regarding discipline
• Leads parent/family coffees on a variety of topics of interest to families
• Works collaboratively with school staff including social workers and counselors
• Builds parent/guardian capacity for leadership

Families May Contact Family Liaisons For:

• Assistance setting up a meeting
• Attendance at a meeting
• Help completing forms
• Help getting an interpreter
• An opportunity just to talk with someone about concerns

Fiorella Zeh

Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:00am to 1:00pm

Phone: 703-912-4511 or 571-474-7807

Available other days by email: [email protected]