NPLI was proud to partner with the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) at the 2026 National Community Schools & Family Engagement Conference, held May 27–29 in Long Beach, California.
Centered on the theme “Guiding Lights, Brighter Futures,” the conference brought together educators, family leaders, community organizations, and other partners from across the country to share ideas and strengthen connections between schools, families, and communities.
Throughout the conference, NPLI highlighted the work of parent leaders in communities including Rochester, Kansas City, and Merced, California, and the role families can play in shaping stronger schools and systems.
Partnering for Impact
NPLI hosted a networking reception and presented the breakout session “Partnering for Impact: How Parents and District Leaders Drive Systemic Change.” The session explored what can happen when families, educators, and community leaders work together to identify challenges and shape solutions.
NPLI Executive Director Donna Thompson-Bennett and Zulema Gomez were joined by Sol Rivas, Executive Director of Valley Onward, and Merced County PLTI parent leaders Rosa Nuño and Erika Martinez, who brought their own experiences directly into the conversation.
For Rosa, sharing those experiences alongside research and connecting with others doing similar work was one of the highlights of the conference.
“Lo que más me gustó fue tener la oportunidad de compartir mi experiencia respaldada por datos reales, así como intercambiar ideas y conectar con personas a quienes realmente les importa su comunidad estudiantil. Al final, cuando trabajamos para fortalecer el involucramiento de los padres, quienes más se benefician son los estudiantes.”
Rosa Nuño, Merced County PLTI
“What I enjoyed most was having the opportunity to share my experience supported by real data, as well as exchange ideas and connect with people who truly care about their school communities. In the end, when we work to strengthen parent engagement, the ones who benefit the most are the students.”
Erika Martinez also reflected on what it meant to attend as a PLTI graduate. Hearing participants share their own experiences, dreams, and accomplishments reinforced for her the importance of continued learning, service, and building connections between parents, schools, and communities. She left encouraged to keep building coalitions toward what she described as “un mejor futuro para nuestros hijos” — “a better future for our children.”
Conference attendees could also explore NPLI’s conference resource page, featuring stories, videos, and examples of parent leaders in action, along with information about NPLI, PLTI, CLTI, and our broader family leadership work.
NPLI is grateful for our continued partnership with IEL and especially proud to work alongside Kwesi Rollins, NPLI’s Board Chair and IEL’s Interim President. His leadership at IEL during this year’s conference offered another meaningful connection between our organizations and our shared commitment to families, communities, and young people.
We’re grateful to Rosa, Erika, Sol, and everyone who helped bring family leadership into the conversation in Long Beach. Their participation was a reminder that conversations about stronger schools and brighter futures are stronger when families help shape them.
