Education Opinion

The Pathway From Fortress School to Partnership School

What are the defining characteristics of a school that is fully engaged in partnerships with families? This illustration by Anne T. Henderson (content author) and Bob Dahm (illustrator) explores that question.

What does a school that shuts out families look like? What are the defining characteristics of a school that is fully engaged in partnerships with families? This illustrated Commentary by Anne T. Henderson (content author) and Bob Dahm (illustrator) explores those questions. This illustration was produced as part of a special Commentary section on the role of parents in K-12 schools. Click to Enlarge.


See additional characteristics of a partnership school. View this illustration as an interactive presentation:

Anne T. Henderson (content author) co-authored Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family-School Partnerships (The New Press, 2007) with Karen L. Mapp, Vivian Johnson, and Don Davies, upon which this graphic Commentary is based. She is the senior consultant for community organizing and engagement at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform in New York City.

Bob Dahm (illustrator) is an assistant professor of design at the school of architecture and design at American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. His illustrations have appeared in many publications, including Education Week.

Coverage of parent-empowerment issues is supported by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation, at www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org. Education Week retains sole editorial control over the content of this coverage.
A version of this article appeared in the November 07, 2013 edition of Education Week