I’ve sat through a lot of family education presentations, both as an educator and as a parent. A few of those talks were transformative, giving me a perspective that changed the way I approached working with young people (whether they were my own kids or my students). Many more, however, felt like I was listening to a canned speech that had already been delivered dozens of times.

Navigating interactions with worried or frustrated parents or guardians is a vital skill set for Academic Leaders. As school leaders, we understand that these conversations have two facets.