What if the strongest foundation for student growth is built not only through what happens at school, but through the meaningful partnerships we nurture with families and caregivers?

In this important webinar, presenter Yessica Esmeralda O’Connor, a seasoned educator and administrator, shares her knowledge and experience in developing and leading a multi-generational program designed to engage, empower, and connect families and caregivers alongside their children. During this session, Yessica will:

• Explore how educators can deepen student well-being and engagement by embracing families, especially those in multilingual and historically underserved communities, as essential partners in the learning journey.
• Share how culturally responsive, mindset-based resources in English and Spanish can help schools create shared language, stronger trust, and lasting connection.
• Discuss how schools can transform family engagement into a true partnership for student growth and well-being.

Attendees will learn practical ways to honor family voices, create a welcoming school environment, and bridge gaps that have long limited whole-child success, so every student is truly supported to thrive.

About the Presenter: Yessica Esmeralda O'Connor is a seasoned educator with two decades of dedicated experience supporting and uplifting English Language Learner (ELL) students. Her journey has taken her from the vibrant classrooms of California and Colorado to educational communities in Japan, Ecuador, and Mexico, where she has cultivated deep cultural understanding and inclusive teaching practices. Throughout her career, Yessica has taught and administered in inner-city schools, low-income communities, and linguistically diverse environments, always centering her work on connection with students, families, and the broader community. Holding dual Master’s degrees in Linguistically Diverse Education and Spanish Literature, she has become a trusted voice in dismantling language barriers and building bridges of understanding. Yessica brings her experience in developing and leading the first multi-generational program designed to engage, empower, and connect families and caregivers alongside their children. This pioneering initiative, launched in the inner cities of Denver, Colorado, is now helping schools transform family engagement into a true partnership for student growth and well-being.