Ashlee Mason

Ashlee Mason, Morgan Central Elementary

My name is Ashlee Mason, and I have the privilege of serving as the Family Resource Center (FRC) coordinator at Morgan Central Elementary in Morgan County. I work closely with students, families, staff, and community partners to remove barriers to learning and to ensure that every child and family has the support they need to thrive, both in and out of the classroom. Over the past school year, our school has undertaken a deeply meaningful journey to strengthen the partnership between home and school by becoming certified as a Family Friendly School. I was appointed as the team lead by our principal, Amber Standafer. I am proud to highlight that this achievement was the result of a collaborative effort involving our principal, assistant principal, staff members, and our wonderful families.

Why We Made This a Priority

Like many districts, Morgan County faces a wide range of challenges – some economic, some social, and others related to access to resources. But one thing has always remained clear to us: strong family engagement is a game-changer. Families are a child’s first and most important teachers, and we knew that if we wanted to see real growth and success in our students, we needed to work side-by-side with their families.

Our decision to pursue the Family Friendly Schools initiative came from this desire to be intentional in our approach. We didn’t just want to say we were welcoming- we wanted to prove it in our daily practices, our policies, our language, and in how we made families feel when they walked through our doors. We believed that this work would help us reflect on what we were already doing well, identify gaps, and create sustainable systems of improvement that would last beyond any one school year or staff member.

How We Approached the Work

From the start, this was a team effort. Our principal brought a visionary leadership approach that made space for staff voices, our assistant principal focused on relationship building and data collection, and I led much of the family engagement outreach and planning. Together, we began by gathering input, surveying families, hosting listening sessions such as our Coffee @ Central, and looking closely at attendance data, discipline patterns, and participation rates in school events. We also were able to collaborate with our SBDM council, and we relied heavily on our FRC Advisory Council. 

We also evaluated how accessible our communication methods were, whether families knew who to contact when they needed support, and whether they felt respected and heard in decision-making processes. These conversations were eye-opening and helped us lay the groundwork for change. We didn’t want to guess what families needed- we wanted to know for sure.

We created new events that were more inclusive of work schedules and the families’ socioeconomic background in our region, established consistent two-way communication channels, and ensured that all staff, from the front office to the cafeteria, received training on creating welcoming environments. We also revised materials to be more user-friendly and ensured our signage and school entrance reflected our commitment to partnership.

Learning About the Certification

Interestingly, we weren’t originally aware that a “Family Friendly Schools” certification even existed. The work we were doing came from a genuine desire to improve family-school relationships. The idea came from a PD one of the district staff attended, and the initiative was set forth by the district leadership. When we reviewed the criteria, we realized that many of the standards aligned perfectly with the work we were already doing- or were planning to do.

Learning about the certification helped give us a roadmap and structure to our efforts. It allowed us to track progress, document changes, and share our journey with others more formally.

The Process

The certification process was both affirming and challenging. It was affirming because it validated that many of our strategies were on the right track. But it also pushed us to go deeper. Gathering and organizing evidence, aligning it with the certification indicators, and engaging a wide group of stakeholders did take time and coordination. However, we never saw the process as a checklist. Instead, it became a mirror- a way to reflect on our strengths and push ourselves to grow and achieve greater things. We appreciated that the process encouraged self-assessment, documentation, and goal-setting, which helped us prioritize what mattered most to us.

Adapting Our Practices

While on this journey, we did not have to completely overhaul what we were doing, but we did have to refine and become more intentional. For example, while we had always hosted family events, we didn’t always gather feedback afterwards. Now, we ask families for input after every major event and use that feedback to improve future programming. We also enhanced our welcoming practices by making sure families who speak languages other than English felt more included. That meant updating materials, using translation tools, collaborating with our district English language arts teacher, and using the interpretation services as needed.

One significant change was increasing the importance of family input in the decision-making process. We enhanced our Family Resource Advisory Council by ensuring effective parent representation. Additionally, we began using existing committees, such as the school-based decision making (SBDM) team and the parent-teacher council organization, with greater intentionality. As a Title I school, our commitment to involving parents in the planning and implementation of events aligned seamlessly with these efforts, fostering a collaborative environment for our community.

Sustaining the Work

Sustainability is one of the most important pieces of this work. We know family engagement cannot be a one-and-done initiative. To keep the momentum going, we have embedded family-friendly practices into our school improvement plan, professional learning, and hiring practices. We also continue to use family feedback as a compass for decision-making.

Our leadership team meets regularly to review progress and brainstorm new ways to reach families who are less connected and help encourage more participation. This team consists of the Family Resource Center coordinator, our principal, school nurse, attendance clerk and our deputy superintendent. We’ve made it a point to celebrate success- not just our certification, but every small win along the way. Recognizing these wins builds morale and keeps everyone invested in the work.

The Transformation

Since embarking on this journey, our school has changed in powerful ways. We’ve seen an increase in family participation at events, more positive parent feedback, and stronger relationships between teachers and caregivers. Families are more comfortable reaching out, and we’ve seen a boost in student confidence and behavior as a result. We have introduced summer programs to facilitate the transition to kindergarten and to enhance social and emotional skills. This initiative is in collaboration with our community partners at the Morgan County Public Library and Pathways. Each week, our participation has increased, along with the development of the program.

But perhaps the most meaningful change is in the culture of our building. There is a shared belief among staff that families are not outsiders to the education process- they are essential partners. Our students see this as well. They see their families being welcomed, respected, and valued, and that sends a powerful message about belonging and community.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a Family Friendly School has been more than just a certification for us; it has represented a shift in our mindset. We have recognized that the best learning occurs not in isolation, but when we create connections between home and school and collaborate to support the whole child. We are only beginning this journey.

We are proud of the progress we have made and are committed to continuing this work for the benefit of every child and family that comes through our doors.

The Family Friendly Schools Certification is awarded by the Prichard Committee after applications are reviewed and scored by a working group of families, educators and community organizations. The group is focused on increasing open communication, learning opportunities and shared decision-making power across the Kentucky education system.

The next certification window is open now and will close on Oct. 1. For more details on the Family Friendly Schools Certification, visit the Prichard Committee’s Family Engagement website.