Break barriers, build trust, and create lasting change for students Family engagement has never been more critical to student achievement, yet too many schools remain stuck in outdated models that treat families as occasional visitors rather than essential partners. Authored by three seasoned and celebrated school leaders, this practical book challenges educators to move beyond traditional "meetings and meals" approaches toward authentic family empowerment that drives meaningful change. Introducing an innovative framework to reimagine family and community engagement, Empowered Families, Thriving Students addresses critical topics including overcoming deficit-based mindsets, establishing trust, building community partnerships, and reimagining traditional practices like parent-teacher conferences. Additional features include Fourteen implementable strategies, each supported by clear action steps and self-analysis questions Authentic vignettes drawn from the authors' extensive experiences in PreK-2 schools across diverse communities Evidence-based approaches that combine nationally recognized research with compelling personal experiences A focus on equity and cultural responsiveness that specifically address the needs of schools serving low-income and multilingual students This exceptional guide provides school leaders, teachers, and community advocates with the essential tools to forge meaningful collaboration that focuses relentlessly on student achievement and wellbeing, creating stronger schools and more vibrant communities.