In 2020, Soo Hong invited readers to participate in a five-part virtual book club series for Natural Allies: Hope and Possibility in Teacher-Family Partnerships. In each session, Dr. Hong invited a teacher featured in Natural Allies for an interactive conversation about engaging families and developing equitable partnerships. She shares some of the book’s takeaways, introduces you to the inspiring teachers of Natural Allies, and responds to questions about family engagement and leadership and the essential practices of teachers who seek to build relationships of authentic respect and caring with families.
Session 1: Ilene Carver
Soo describes her motivation for writing Natural Allies and invites Ilene Carver, Boston educator and organizer, for the first book club conversation.
Session 2: Megan Lucas
Soo introduces Megan Lucas, a former teacher in the DC Public Schools, about her school’s transformation centered on family engagement.
Soo introduces Cinthia Colón, a teacher at Young Achievers School in Boston, to talk about the importance of connecting with all families and celebrating the beauty and richness of the immigrant families we work with.
Session 3: Cinthia Colón
Soo invites Annie Shah-Solle, a Boston public school teacher, to talk about her experiences seeking and building authentic connections with students and their families. Soo and Annie also reflect on the impactful leadership of Jinny Chalmers, former principal of the Young Achievers School in Boston.
Session 4: Annie Shah-Solle
Soo invites Julia Finkelstein, a former Boston public school teacher who currently teaches in Atlanta, to discuss her experience supporting emergent bilingual students as well as her experience as a novice teacher at the time of the study.