Middletown Public Schools has been awarded a $7,500 grant from the Liberty Bank Foundation to enhance its Family Engagement Liaison (FEL) program. The funds will be used to provide professional development opportunities for FELs, focusing on best practices for building family, school, and community partnerships and strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism.
Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos, Superintendent of Middletown Public Schools, expressed gratitude for the grant, emphasizing the importance of strong family-school partnerships in student success. "This funding will allow our Family Engagement Liaisons to deepen their knowledge around fostering meaningful connections between homes, schools, and the wider Middletown community," he stated.
David W. Glidden, President & CEO of Liberty Bank, highlighted the alignment between the grant and the bank's mission to improve lives in the community. "The critical role of Family Engagement Liaisons and our support of the job they do in Middletown perfectly aligns with our mission to improve the lives of our customers, teammates and communities for generations to come," Glidden said.
The grant is part of Middletown Public Schools' broader strategy to strengthen family, school, and community partnerships. The district has recently become a Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP) District through the Connecticut State Department of Education and is participating in CREC's federally funded CT Family-School Partnerships program.
Family Engagement Liaisons play a crucial role in the district by facilitating open communication, volunteering opportunities, and collaborative partnerships to support children's academic learning. The professional development funded by this grant aims to equip FELs with the latest research-based practices in the field of Family, School, and Community Partnerships.