09/18/2026
How does connection happen? 🤔
Let’s set the scene…
A specialist comes to a school to meet the new principal and PEA and talk about ways they can work together to strengthen family engagement.
Simple enough, right?
The principal’s office is beautifully decorated in pink, rich colors with the cutest cartoon themed throw pillows.
Now let’s talk about THE PILLOWS!
Those pillows somehow trigger a core childhood memory for the specialist.
One “I remember those!” turns into another.
And suddenly, they’re talking cartoons, childhood memories, funny stories, and all the little things that make us… US!
The meeting that started as, “Let’s talk about family engagement,”
quickly became,
“Wait… YOU watched that too?!” 😂
And just like that…
A connection was made.
A relationship was built.
And a partnership began.
Because sometimes, connection doesn’t happen through a strategic plan or a PowerPoint.
Sometimes it happens through a throw pillow and a shared childhood memory.💕
That’s the power of finding common ground. Specialist April Shannon and Principal Shannon Spoto are and fans!
Shout out to Frances Fuchs Early Childhood Center and PEA Laura Martinez for all the work that they do!
Family engagement starts with relationships and relationships start with connection.
