Upcoming WCPSS Parent and Educator Summit to Provide Tools to Support Student Success
Summit is designed to bring people together across all corners of Wake County to promote equity, connection, and trust in public education.
Holly Springs, NC, Apr. 16, 2025—The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) is inviting families, educators, and community members to a major two-day event focused on strengthening relationships, breaking down barriers, and equipping schools and families to work together to support student success.
The Family and Community Engagement Summit, scheduled for April 25 and 26 at The Summit at Capitol Hills, is designed to unite people across all corners of Wake County to promote equity, connection, and trust in public education.
The event is part of WCPSS’s commitment to a “dual capacity building model,” which focuses on helping families and educators grow their ability to collaborate. As Dr. Leanne Alford-Keefe explained during the April 15 Community Engagement Committee meeting, the summit has been built with “a balance of sessions for families as well as for staffs” so that all participants leave better equipped to support student learning and well-being.
At its core, the summit is about empowering families. It provides a safe, inclusive space where parents can access resources, learn from expert speakers, and feel more confident navigating the school system. At the same time, it helps educators and administrators build skills and strategies to better engage with the diverse communities they serve.
The summit opens on the evening of April 25th with a family-friendly kickoff at Marvel’s Museum. On April 26th, the main venue will host a full day of sessions. Programming includes interactive workshops, nationally recognized keynote speakers, local experts, and a community resource showcase.
Featured speakers include Pete Key, known for his powerful talks on the role of families in student achievement, National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman, Dr. Tommie Mabry, and children’s author Charlitta Hatch. Local organizations such as Centro Para Familias Hispanas and a panel of Wake County principals will also lead sessions tailored to the needs of local families.
Promotion for the summit has been robust, with WCPSS utilizing digital flyers, social media campaigns, school-based announcements, and support from community advisory groups to spread the word across the district. The district has also welcomed feedback from board members and stakeholders to make outreach even more effective.
In response to thoughtful suggestions, the communications team is enhancing messaging to ensure families clearly understand the summit’s purpose and feel confident that “this is a safe space for parents to feel welcomed and included.” Dr. Leanne Alford-Keefe affirmed the district’s commitment to clarity and inclusivity, noting that “additional targeted messaging” is underway to better distinguish between the Friday evening kickoff event and Saturday’s main summit programming.
Beyond information-sharing, the summit is a statement of intent: WCPSS wants every family to know they are valued partners in their children's education. As Dr. Alford-Keefe put it simply, “It’s really all about families, right? That’s what family and community engagement is about.”
How to Learn More
For more information about the Family and Community Engagement Summit—including registration links, a full event schedule, and school resources—visit the WCPSS website at www.wcpss.net.
The summit will be held at:
The Summit Church – Capitol Hills Campus
3000 Ligon Mill Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Families and community members with questions may contact Dr. Leanne Alford-Keefe, Director of Family and Community Engagement, at lalford-keefe@wcpss.net. Additional materials will be distributed through individual schools and district social media channels.