Families Are Partners
We build better schools when we build them together.
Courtney believes that schools work best when families are invited in, not pushed to the sidelines. As a mom of three kids in USD 383, she’s been on every side of parent engagement: from PTO nights and IEP meetings, to chasing down newsletters and lunch balances.
Her message: Families want to be involved. Let’s make it easier for them.
What REAL Family Involvement
Looks Like
✅ Transparent, two-way communication
✅ More opportunities to give feedback and be heard
✅ Volunteer-friendly systems
✅ Parent representation on committees and initiatives
✅ Teachers + families = Teamwork
Strong Families = Strong Schools
She’s committed to:
Hosting open-door forums and listening sessions throughout the year
Creating consistent, district-wide communication tools for parents
Supporting accessible parent/teacher conference formats
Building systems that empower working parents to participate
Advocating for family feedback to be part of school board decision-making
When families are engaged, we see:
Better academic performance
Fewer behavioral issues
Increased graduation rates
Higher student confidence
More community trust