Parent Connect

Connect with a community of parents at your child’s school and learn from experts on topics you are living every single day!

What is Parent Connect?

Parent Connect is School Connect program hosted at your local school, designed to provide a welcoming community for parents with practical, relevant ideas and community support! At the beginning of the school year, parents choose the topics they would like to discuss and then hear from experts on a new topic every month. Throughout the year parents are equipped and supported to help their kids to achieve their goals and develop the grit to never give up!

Gain Practical Tips

Develop practical parenting strategies with other parents

Be Future Focused

The foundation we build today is a long-term investment for tomorrow

Find Connection and Support

Together we share our victories and challenges to build connection and find support

Learn Together

Together we will learn, grow, and encourage one another

Learn more about Parent Connect!

FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS

Parent Connect is a program hosted at your local school (often in the school library) and run by a staff member and a community partner or school champion. To join Parent Connect, simply complete the form above to find a location near you, or consider starting your own Parent Connect to support and engage parents at your school!

As School Connect builds the program library of resources, Parent Connect may become virtually available as well.

Parent Connect is hosted at local schools, often in the school library on a monthly night of the school’s choosing. The first Parent Connect meeting of the school year includes an overview and a brainstorming session when participating parents choose which topics they would like to discuss throughout the school year. Location needs include A/V equipment, meeting tables, and available parking.
Participants of the Parent Connect program include a school representative, the program host, a topic expert, and attending parents – usually parents from the host school. During Parent Connect meetings, parents listen to an interview between the program host and the topic expert and then discuss the interview questions together.
During Parent Connect meetings, parents listen to an interview between the program host and the topic expert, and then discuss the interview questions together – often over a meal! Topics Experts might include a child psychologist, a first responder, a school principal, a university professor, or a chaplain.

Topics are chosen by parents at the beginning of the school year, but might include:
• Developing Your Family’s 3 Core Values
• Protecting Your Kids as They Use Social Media
• Helping Your Kids Choose Good Friends
• Drug Proofing Your Kids
• Less Yelling, More Talking
• Navigating Stress and Anxiety
• Talking With Teams About Tough Topics

The Program Host manages the meeting agendas, arranges for Topic Experts (either in-person or using the virtual library) and runs both an interview with the Topic Expert, and the discussion questions with parents.

Topics Experts are chosen based on the discussion topics parents choose at the beginning of the school year, and might include a child psychologist, a first responder, a school principal, a university professor, or a chaplain.

Sponsorships might include building the Parent Connect program library – our collection of virtual interviews between a Program Host and Topic Expert on the most requested topics. Other sponsorships could help support the program at a specific school or in a specific district. Complete the form above for more information.

Request a sample from the Parent Connect program library!

Parent Connect Library Samples

  • What Every Parent of a High Schooler Should Know
  • Helping Your Kids Navigate Anxiety
  • Loving Our Kids in Their Most Challenging Moments
  • The Impact of Social Media: How to Build Healthy, Resilient Kids in a Tech Driven World
  • The Value of Parenting
  • Social Emotional Support for Elementary Students
  • Trauma Informed Parenting
  • What Every Parent of a High Schooler Should Know
  • Helping Your Kids Navigate Anxiety
  • Loving Our Kids in Their Most Challenging Moments
  • The Impact of Social Media: How to Build Healthy, Resilient Kids in a Tech Driven World
  • The Value of Parenting
  • Social Emotional Support for Elementary Students
  • Trauma Informed Parenting

The Parents’ Perspective

“I know that I’m going to leave more encouraged and strengthened than when I came. Everyone is super warm and welcoming. Everyone is going through the same things that you are.”

“Being with other like-minded people. Knowing that we are all in this together. We share our failures. We share our triumphs. You need this. I needed it! Try it!”

A Principal’s View

Why Principal Kristi Hammer of Cactus High School was one of the first schools to host Parent Connect. Principal Hammer wanted an opportunity for parents to come together and learn parenting together. She reminds us that we are here to win the hearts and minds of our kids. Come join a Parent Connect to find out what everyone is talking about!

More Ways to Get Involved!

Connect at a CAFÉ

Connect with school leadership to learn how you can make a difference! Join A CAFE!

Sponsor a School 

Sponsor a school to make a direct impact where it is needed most!

Love Our Teachers

Teacher Retention has a major impact on student outcomes. Let’s show teachers some love!

Love Our Schools

Join a project for Love Our Schools Day to strategically impact the greatest goals of the school!

Champion Program

School Connect connects, trains, and coaches leaders like YOU to become school champions for the children in your community!

Join Our Village

Doing this alone is impossible; it takes all of us working together to make a difference.

Latest Podcast

News & Events

Please join us for the School Connect Summit 2024 this February at the Footprint Center. Take your seat on the arena floor as leaders from every sector share their vision for the future. Together, we will empower our communities to connect through their local schools – building partnerships that will change the future for Arizona children.
Dr. Paul Tighe, Executive Director of Arizona School Administrators invites leaders to join ASA and School Connect at the School Connect Summit because we know Arizona youth succeed when the village shows up! Join us on February 12, 2024, from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at Footprint Center as we build a legacy of champions.
#SchoolConnect #ASA #AZSchoolAdministrators #ASBAAC2023 #Summit2024 #AZblue #titansolarpower #suns #titancares #phxoffcourt #ittakesavillage #champions
@arizona_asa @bcbsaz @titansolarpowerinc @suns @phxoffcourt
HTTPS://schoolconnectaz.org/summit
These quotes from #studentleaders prove that leadership matters at every age. Check out what these students from Pendergast Elementary School District, Phoenix Union High School District, and Laveen Elementary School District had to say about the #schoolconnectsummit and how it inspired them to share their #studentvoice! #studentslead #Summit2024 #SchoolConnect @phoenixunionhs @pesd92
https://schoolconnectaz.org/summit
 
Breaking News! School Connect is pleased to announce a confirmed date for our tenth anniversary School Connect Summit 2024. Join us on the arena floor of Footprint Center, on February 12, 2024, from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm. Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, and in partnership with Titan Solar Power, the official solar contractor of the Phoenix Suns, we invite you to lead the way for your team and your community. #SchoolConnect #Summit2024 #AZblue #titansolarpower #suns #titancares #phxoffcourt #cominginhot #leadershipmatters
 
What we know is that, win or lose, champions do not sit on the sidelines. They show up for their team – their community - every single day. These leaders build trust and inspire hope in those around them as they give people a vision for what is possible. Ultimately, champions pave the way for future leaders, and in so doing, champions change the world. Join us in the arena for the Summit! @bcbsaz @titansolarpowerinc @suns @phxoffcourt @benwallsfilms
https://schoolconnectaz.org/donations/2023-year-end/
Watch as students volunteering at Sahuaro Elementary for Love Our Schools Day teach our team about respect. We love working with the next generation of leaders! Well done!! School Connect cannot do this important work without you. Donate today to help us bring more support for Arizona student leaders! #SchoolConnect #WESDfamily #respect #studentleaders #studentvoice #belonging #loveourschoolsday 
@sahuaro_wesd @wesdschools
HTTPS://schoolconnectaz.org/stem-students
Why sponsor a student’s STEM “Game Day” Field Trip? While STEM careers are the future of education, the research shows that more than 2/3rds of middle school students do not enter high school ready to start working toward a STEM career.
 
As Principal Ontiveros says, “You can’t dream about something you don’t know about.”
 
But together, we can give kids a vision for their career potential, as well as connections and resources to help them prepare. Early support makes the difference. Every student deserves a STEM Choice. Sponsor a student today! 
#STEMstudents #everystudent #schoolconnect #ACECAZ #ASUInnovation #gameday #givingtuesday #careersofthefuture #studentvoice
@pvschools @BenWallsFilms