Episode 306: When the School Calls, What Do Parents Expect? with Dr Ted Huff

When your school calls, what do parents expect to hear? In episode 306 of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Ted Huff joins Dr. Darrin Peppard to discuss how school leaders can build trust with families before a difficult conversation becomes necessary. Ted shares practical strategies for strengthening family engagement—from scheduling positive calls home to meeting families in their own community. We explore how to reach parents who seem disconnected, listen without immediately trying to solve a problem, and create a school environment where every family feels welcome. This conversation challenges leaders to examine the assumptions we make about parents and become more intentional about building partnerships that support students. IN THIS EPISODE: • Moving family engagement beyond fundraising. • Making positive parent communication part of your schedule. • Understanding how parents’ own school experiences shape their perspective. • Reaching families who face barriers to participating. • Starting difficult conversations with “What are your hopes and dreams for your child?” • Helping office staff, bus drivers, and food service teams recognize their role in family engagement. • Including family partnerships in your school and district improvement plans. ABOUT DR. TED HUFF Ted is a retired school administrator with 31 years of experience as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. The 2016 Missouri Principal of the Year, Ted now supports school leaders through Leading with Parents and the Missouri Leadership Development System. CONNECT WITH TED Website: https://leadingwithparents.org/ Email: tedhuff@leadingwithparents.org LinkedIn: Search “Leading with Parents” OUR SPONSORS Curriculum Leadership Institute: https://www.cliweb.org/ Mention Leaning Into Leadership to receive 5% off your first year. HeyTutor: https://heytutor.com/?utm_source=RTA&... CONNECT WITH DARRIN Explore leadership coaching, keynote speaking, and team development: https://www.darrinpeppard.com/ JOIN THE CONVERSATION What is one thing your school does to build trust with families before there’s a problem? Share it in the comments. Subscribe to Leaning Into Leadership for more conversations about leading with clarity and intentionality, and share this episode with a leader on your team. #LeaningIntoLeadership #SchoolLeadership #FamilyEngagement #ParentEngagement #EducationalLeadership