Educators from across the country gathered in Long Beach, California, from May 27 -29 for the 2026 Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference. United by this year’s theme, Guiding Lights, Brighter Futures, the conference celebrated the belief that brighter futures for children are built through meaningful partnerships among schools, families, and communities. It offered a place to learn from one another, recharge, and discover new ways to strengthen the relationships that help every student thrive.
The Cotsen Foundation was proud to see its Alumni represented throughout the conference, with educators leading three breakout sessions that showed how family engagement takes shape in diverse school communities. Across the sessions, a clear message emerged: families are essential partners in student learning.
Cotsen Alumni Eileen Aguilar, Genesy Mendez, and Mike Miller, along with former Assistant Director Cindy Bak and Senior Program Officer Carlen Le-Hessinger, presented The Power of We: Empowering Educators to Engage Families as Instructional Allies, an interactive session that blended research with classroom practice to explore the power of authentic family engagement. Mike Miller of Quail Summit Elementary School in Walnut Valley Unified School District, Eileen Aguilar of Atwater Avenue Elementary STEAM School in Los Angeles Unified School District, and Genesy Mendez of UCLA Community School in Los Angeles Unified School District shared classroom stories showing how family literacy experiences, culturally responsive practices, and shared learning opportunities strengthen relationships, build trust, and connect learning between home and school. Participants left with practical ideas and renewed inspiration to develop partnerships with families as allies in student learning.
Another inspiring session came from Heideman Elementary School in the Tustin Unified School District. Community Specialist and Cotsen Alumna Gia Meade, along with Principal Deanne Parks, shared Aprendiendo Juntos: Building Authentic Family School Partnerships, highlighting a vibrant series of monthly family workshops centered on literacy and mathematics. Their work demonstrated how schools can create welcoming spaces where families learn alongside their children, build confidence as partners in learning, and strengthen the connection between home and school. Rather than asking families to simply attend events, Heideman has created opportunities for families to actively participate as co-educators, supporting learning in meaningful and lasting ways.
Principal Hugo Rios, Parent Leader Lizzete Garcia, and Literacy Coach and Cotsen Alumna Julie Ellis from Danbrook Elementary School in the Centralia Elementary School District shared Family Learning Communities: Empowering Caregivers Through Shared Leadership Linked to Learning. Their presentation showcased a powerful shift from traditional family workshops to grade-level Family Learning Communities where caregivers analyze student work, set goals alongside educators, and help design learning experiences for their children. By sharing leadership with families, Danbrook has created a model that builds confidence, trust, and a shared commitment to student success.
Although each presentation reflected a different approach, together they reinforced a larger point: family engagement is not a single event or program. It is a culture built over time through relationships, shared experiences, and a belief that every family has valuable knowledge and strengths to contribute.
The presence of many Cotsen Alumni at a national conference is a testament to the Foundation’s enduring investment in educators. The ideas shared in these sessions did not emerge overnight. They represent years of thoughtful practice, reflection, collaboration, and continuous learning within the Cotsen network, and they show what grows when educators are empowered to innovate, learn from one another, and share their work beyond their own schools.