When high school teacher Kristen Whitaker arrived at work this morning, she knew there was a planned assembly. What she didn’t know is it was really just a ruse, set up to surprise her as 2015 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year for her efforts in engaging students’ families in their children’s education. She was also presented with a $20,000 grant to fund a two-generation summer camp program she created for low-income minority students and their families.

Whitaker leads family engagement efforts at Columbia Heights Education Campus (CHEC) in Washington, D.C., where the student population is 100 percent minority and 90 percent low-income. So far this school year, Whitaker has visited 37 families, and coached fellow faculty members to make visits, resulting in a combined more than 200 visits.

“Kristen believes strongly in the importance of meeting parents ‘where they are’ in order to build trust and achieve family goals...” -CHEC Principal Tukeva

Home visits build meaningful relationships with students and their families. They keep parents informed and offer an opportunity to set goals and track progress over time, helping families meet their full potential. Whitaker has worked with fellow teachers to bring knowledge of family culture back to class, making instruction more personal and individualized. Insider her classroom, Whitaker’s students are highly engaged and performing well above average academically.

“Kristen believes strongly in the importance of meeting parents ‘where they are’ in order to build trust and achieve family goals,” said Principal Maria Tukeva. “Her work has created a whole new energy around involving parents at CHEC.”

The Toyota Family Teacher of the Year award, a national honor now in its 19th year, recognizes that families play a crucial role in the learning process of children. It salutes educators who are exceptional at using two-generation approaches to engage students and their families in education.

“The family summer camp Kristen plans is a great example of using the Toyota Family Teacher of the Year grant to employ the latest approaches to intergenerational learning in a program that will appeal to and reach entire families,” said Mike Goss, vice president of external affairs, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America.

“Study after study has proven that parents engaged in their children’s learning increases student achievement,” said Sharon Darling, president, NCFL. “And more recent studies also indicate that the willingness of a parent to get involved in their child’s education is very powerful in strengthening the parent-child relationship … as well as the entire school and the community as a whole.”

Whitaker and runner up, Donna LaBeaume of San Antonio, Texas, will be recognized for their accomplishments at our Families Learning Summit  in Houston on March 17. LaBeaume is a virtual pre-kindergarten coach at the Southwest Independent School District Early Childhood Center. Through technology and parent coaching, she encourages early childhood literacy among more than 100 predominantly Hispanic families. LaBeaume received a $5,000 grant to continue her family engagement efforts.

“The extraordinary work of both Kristen and Donna in engaging families in their student’s education will pay dividends for these students, their families, their schools and their communities for generations to come,” Goss said.

Learn more about Ms. Whitaker's home-visiting efforts in this Washington Post feature.