Adults, including teachers, all school staff, parents and caregivers, can foster youth empowerment by building connections amongst each other. Teachers and school staff members can seek to build partnerships with parents and caregivers. Doing so strengthens students’ network of caring and supportive adults, and increases the likelihood that students will encounter coherent values and messages in the home and school contexts.
When school staff members work collaboratively and constructively, we model healthy, equal relationships founded on cooperation. We are also more effective supporting our students when we ourselves are supported.