Event Details
Effective Engagement with Your Board of Education
Sponsoring Organization: CPAC
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
6:00pm
No cost
Families, community members, and Boards of Education (BOEs) all want the same thing—student success. But how do BOEs make the decisions that shape every child’s education? From setting policies and priorities to balancing budgets and staffing challenges, their choices have a direct impact on classrooms across Connecticut.
In this dynamic session, you’ll get an inside look at:
How BOEs work: What drives their decisions and responsibilities.
The power of your voice: How families and community members can influence outcomes.
Real-world strategies: Ways to engage effectively—even during tough conversations about funding, staffing, or policy.
You’ll leave with practical tools to strengthen partnerships with your BOE and make your voice count in shaping your child’s education.
Presented by:
Patrice McCarthy
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE)
Executive Director and General Counsel
and
Jennifer Lussier
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)
Partnership Programs Manager
> Register for event
CPAC Programs and Services
Parent Training and
Information (PTI) Center
Parent Centers provide a variety of services including one-on-one support and assistance, workshops, publications, and websites.
Family
Connections
Family Connections is for parents in CT who have a child with a disability, ages birth to three years old who are receiving services through Connecticut's Birth to Three System.
Collaboration Between
Families and Schools
CPAC continues to be a resource to families and schools to help build positive relationships at the individual, school or district level.
Youth Advisory Board & REAL Transition Partners
A collaboration between all 26 Region A parent centers, provides innovative services that involve diverse youth/young adults with disabilities and their families.
Next
STEPS
This 8 session series helps parents and professionals gain the skills necessary for them to be effective members at the Planning and Placement Team meeting (PPT).
Training for
Parents & Professionals
Training workshops which can be tailored to meet individual group needs and interests. Workshops can also be presented in Spanish.