March 2026
Volume 2 Issue 12
Welcome to the March 2026 edition of the FACE to FACE Newsletter from the Office of Family and Community Empowerment!
As we enter March, we take this opportunity to reflect on the progress made so far this year and to build on the strong foundation of partnership across our school communities. With the arrival of spring, this season invites renewed focus, fresh ideas, and continued collaboration in service of our students and families.
In this issue, you’ll find highlights from family engagement efforts across our boroughs, important updates and reminders to support your work, and curated resources designed to strengthen school–family partnerships. We also spotlight initiatives that elevate family voice and create meaningful opportunities for connection and shared leadership.
Thank you for your continued commitment to empowering families and fostering welcoming, inclusive school communities. We look forward to another month of impactful engagement and collective progress.
A Message from Chief Dr. Annmary López
Dear Family Facing Staff,
As we begin a new month together, March brings with it the promise of spring — longer days, warmer light, and the quiet reminder that growth is always possible. Happy Women’s History Month and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
During this time of reflection and recognition, I’ve been thinking about something simple, yet deeply powerful: the power of one. At its core, the power of one is the belief that a single, consistent, caring adult can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. Not because they fixed everything. Not because they held the highest title. But because they showed up: authentically, consistently, and with care.
I’ve seen this firsthand. A family once felt overwhelmed navigating the school system; unsure who to call, unsure how to advocate, unsure if their voice mattered. It wasn’t a policy shift that changed their experience. It was one staff member who returned the call, who followed up, who translated not just language but process, who made the system feel human. That one connection builds trust. That trust builds engagement and that engagement changed outcomes for that child.
That is the power of one.
As family-facing staff, you are often that one. The first voice families hear. The steady presence in moments of confusion. The bridge between home and school. The calm in situations that feel complex. Our work is big and systems-driven, but its impact is deeply personal.
As America Ferrera reminds us, “You are defined by your actions, not by others’ expectations.” In our context, every interaction is an opportunity to build trust. Every family is deserving. Every conversation is a chance to make the system feel more human.
As we move through this month, I want us grounded in this: We may not solve every challenge in a single day, but we can always choose to be the one who listens, who follows through, who makes a family feel seen. That is both our responsibility and our privilege.
With gratitude for the way you continue to show up for our NYCPS families every single day.
In community,
Dr. Annmary López
Chief of Family and Community Empowerment
Welcoming Our New Deputy Chancellor
We are thrilled to welcome Flavia Puello-Perdomo as the new Deputy Chancellor of the Division of Family Partnership and Community Support. As Chancellor Samuels shared, NYCPS has launched this newly formed division to bring together teams and initiatives that work every day to uplift students and families, including FACE, Community Schools, the Office of Language Access, Project Open Arms, counseling support programs, and the Every Child and Family is Known initiative.
This new division creates an exciting opportunity to better align and strengthen the work that supports families across our school communities. Under Deputy Chancellor Puello-Perdomo’s leadership, the division will continue advancing partnerships, expanding access to critical supports, and ensuring that every family, especially those navigating the greatest challenges, feels welcomed, connected, and empowered in our schools.
Office of Family and Community Empowerment
Through meaningful family-school partnerships, The Office of Family and Community Empowerment supports families in creating spaces where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, shaping a brighter future together.
The Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) Election is coming up this Spring!
The Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) is a 24-member, voting body overseeing New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) and is comprised of community leaders across every neighborhood and borough of New York City. From former educators and principals to advocates, parents, and specialists in their field the Panel stands behind the unifying tenant to represent the diversity of voice and opinion within New York City school communities while promoting equity in education.
The 2026 PEP application will be available on the NYC Public Schools website beginning March 16, 2026, and will close on April 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM. All eligible NYC parents are encouraged to apply. Parent representatives serve a one-year term from July 1 through June 30.
You can support this important process by:
Learning more about the PEP and its role in NYCPS - click here to learn more.
Encouraging families to attend a PEP meeting or watch the meeting virtually - click here for PEP meeting schedule or here for past meeting recordings.
Discuss with families what was shared at the meeting and share meeting information with your school community.
Encouraging eligible parents to apply once the application opens on March 16, 2026.
Thank you for helping to elevate family voice and participation in our school communities.
Help Families Stay Connected: Promote NYC Schools Account (NYCSA)
NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) is a powerful tool that helps families stay informed, engaged, and connected to their child’s education, and your outreach can make the difference.
NYCSA gives parents and guardians one secure place to:
View grades, test scores, attendance and transportation information
Update emergency contact information
Access free online courses through Parent University
Report bullying and harassment
Access SupportHub to get help with technology, transportation, and more
When families use NYCSA they are better equipped to support student success.
Please encourage families to sign up for NYCSA today.
Make NYCSA promotion part of your ongoing family engagement efforts; help every family get connected.
Help Families Get Involved: Community and Citywide Education Councils (CCECs)
Did you know that families have a direct role in shaping policies and priorities for New York City Public Schools? Community and Citywide Education Councils (CCECs) give parents and guardians a powerful voice in decisions that impact our schools.
By law, education councils have important responsibilities, including:
Working directly with district superintendents
Reviewing educational programs
Approving school zoning lines
Making recommendations to improve services for NYCPS students
Participating in a council is a meaningful way for families to advocate for their children, strengthen school communities, and help shape the future of public education in New York City.
Spread awareness by:
Sharing the Learn YouTube video
Inviting families to attend a CCEC meeting
Encouraging families to visit the CCEC website: schools.nyc.gov/CCEC
When families have a seat at the table, our schools are stronger for every student.
FACE Programs and Initiatives
The Family Connectors and NYC Reads Ambassador Programs
Ready to Help Families Make a Difference?
Please share this opportunity with families in your school community:
The Family Connectors and NYC Reads Ambassador Programs invite parents and caregivers to play a key role in strengthening the connection between schools and families. For the past year, these programs have provided families with the vital resources they need to thrive, centering the holistic wellness of families as the key driver for our students’ success.
NYC Reads Ambassadors Program empowers families to support literacy at home by sharing research-based literacy strategies. By building caregiver confidence in literacy and strengthening the partnership between schools and families, Ambassadors help ensure every child has the foundation to thrive as a reader.
The Family Connectors Program trains families to raise awareness of supports and opportunities within their community. During these weekly virtual training sessions, Family Connectors are introduced to key city agencies, partners, and resources they can turnkey to other families, ensuring their community members are informed, valued, and empowered.
If you know parents and/or caregivers who are passionate about education or dedicated to giving back to their community, this is their chance to inspire and lead. By joining these programs and partnering with FACE, families can support one another, share valuable resources, and help bridge the gap between schools and communities.
Join the Family Connectors Program here: https://forms.office.com/r/KybsF0jqde
Join the NYC Reads Ambassador Program here: https://forms.office.com/r/wT7nPHnPtp
Stay Connected and Keep Learning with Parent University!
Parent University is a one-stop hub for parents, caregivers, and school leaders seeking to access workshops, resources, and learning opportunities that support student success and family engagement. From practical tips to in-depth guidance, Parent University offers a wide range of sessions designed to empower families and strengthen school communities.
Family Connectors can take full advantage of this resource by watching recordings of past sessions anytime. Whether you missed a workshop or want to revisit a favorite, these sessions help you stay informed, build new skills, and continue your journey toward earning your Family Connectors certificate. Rewatching sessions not only keeps you on track for certification; it also provides insights and strategies to support families and make a meaningful impact in your school community.
Don’t wait, log in to Parent University today, catch up on what you’ve missed, and keep the momentum going!
FACE in Community: Taking Family Partnership into Districts
At our third FACE in Community session, families gathered to deepen their understanding of the building blocks of early literacy and strengthen the connections that support student success. We revisited our community agreements, reflected on key takeaways from Session 2, and engaged in an energizing acrostic poem icebreaker that celebrated the strengths each participant brings to the learning space.
This session focused on the foundations of reading: phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, and phonics. Families explored what these skills look and sound like in practice and learned how they support children in connecting sounds to letters. Through a hands-on Elkonin Boxes activity, participants practiced segmenting and blending sounds using only their voices and listening skills, reinforcing that powerful literacy practice can happen anytime, anywhere; no worksheets required. As always, we returned to our ritual question: “What is one hope or dream you have for your child or your family?”, grounding our learning in the aspirations that guide our work together.
Family Connectors also shared valuable community resources, including workshops and supports from ImmSchools, which helps immigrant families understand their rights and feel confident navigating school systems, and Hot Bread Kitchen, which offers culinary job training and small business support for adults seeking career growth in the food industry. Families were encouraged to access Parent University sessions and connect with these organizations for additional support.
Through FACE in Community, we continue building strong partnerships among families, schools, and community organizations, and empowering caregivers with practical literacy strategies and expanding access to resources that support the whole family.
As FACE in Community comes directly into neighborhoods, we are seeing the power of families leading, learning, and growing together. There is space at the table for every family.
Building Strong Foundations in Literacy and Math
Over the past several weeks, families from across the city came together for our Building Strong Foundations in Literacy and Math workshop series, deepening their understanding of how children learn to read and develop strong mathematical thinking. Through engaging, research-aligned sessions, caregivers explored the science of reading, phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and foundational math concepts, gaining practical strategies they can use at home right away to support their child’s growth.
Each session centered families as true partners in learning. Participants practiced hands-on activities like sound segmentation and blending, unpacked how number sense develops, and learned how to ask purposeful questions that strengthen comprehension and problem-solving skills. Together, we built not just knowledge, but confidence; empowering families with clear tools, shared language, and a deeper understanding of what strong instruction looks like in the classroom.
This series reflects our continued commitment to strengthening home-school partnerships and ensuring families feel informed, equipped, and connected. We are grateful to every caregiver who showed up, asked questions, shared reflections, and invested in their child’s success. The learning doesn’t stop here, and we look forward to continuing this work together.
Ambassador Program for ELL Families: Building Literacy, Building Community
Our Ambassador Program proudly partnered with LINC (Literacy in Community) to deliver a powerful 7-week virtual workshop series designed especially for families of multilingual learners. Led by bilingual facilitators, the one-hour evening sessions (6:00–7:00 PM) provided families with practical, hands-on strategies to strengthen early literacy skills at home.
Throughout the series, families explored:
Foundations of early literacy and phonological awareness
Phonemic awareness and sound–word connections
Creating phonics-rich homes
Building fluency in English and home languages
Strengthening vocabulary, comprehension, and the reading–writing connection
Each session offered interactive, play-based strategies families can easily incorporate into daily routines—empowering caregivers to support their children as growing readers in both English and their home languages.
Beyond learning, something even more special happened. Families built meaningful connections with one another, sharing experiences, questions, and cultural traditions. What began as a simple icebreaker activity blossomed into a beautiful, multilingual Community Cookbook, co-created with participating families. Featuring dishes from around the world, the cookbook celebrates culture, literacy, and community; reminding us that reading, storytelling, and shared experiences all belong at the heart of family life.
We are grateful to our facilitators and families whose engagement, curiosity, and warmth made this series such a success. We look forward to continuing to grow this vibrant learning community together.
Our Schools. Our Future: Conversations with the Chancellor
Join Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels for a series of in-person conversations across New York City focused on the future of our public schools. These sessions offer families and community members the opportunity to engage directly with NYCPS leadership, ask questions, and share perspectives on school priorities and student success.
Grounded in the Chancellor’s vision for NYCPS, the Listening Tour centers on meaningful dialogue around school safety, academic experiences, family and community empowerment, and access to essential resources, including language access, special education, and enrollment supports.
Please share Chancellor Kamar Samuels Listening Tour Flyer with your school communities and encourage families to attend. Broad outreach helps ensure family voices are heard and strengthens partnerships between schools and communities.
Upcoming Tour Dates
March
3/28 (Bronx)
April
4/25 (Staten Island)
Access flyers here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1f-RvbjQFkbiKnOpOakZpUOroKcVdrjcA?usp=sharing
By supporting family participation, you’re helping create inclusive spaces for dialogue and giving families a meaningful opportunity to shape decisions that impact their schools and communities.
Family Connectors Jacket Distribution: Celebrating Consistency and Leadership
The recent Family Connectors jacket distribution marked a meaningful moment for the Family Connectors community. The gathering recognized distinguished Connectors whose consistent participation and dedication have set them apart within our growing network.
Family Connectors who achieved 80% or higher participation in trainings and partnership presentations were honored with jackets in recognition of their commitment to learning and engagement. These Connectors have shown up consistently to deepen their knowledge, strengthen their skills, and expand their capacity to support families across their schools and surrounding communities.
Their commitment reflects:
Consistent participation in Family Connectors trainings and partnership presentations
A dedication to learning about resources that address critical needs, including housing stability, food access, literacy, workforce development, immigration supports, and youth programming
Increasing awareness of resources and programming offered by city agencies, cultural institutions, and community-based organizations within their schools and the larger communities they serve
A willingness to serve as trusted messengers within their districts and neighborhoods
Each jacket symbolizes more than attendance. It represents engagement, reliability, and a clear commitment to ensuring families across schools and communities have access to information, opportunity, and support.
These distinguished Family Connectors model what it means to lead through action. Their steady presence continues to strengthen connections and bridge resource gaps across neighborhoods citywide.
This recognition celebrates not only what they have accomplished, but what they continue to build: informed families, empowered communities, and partnerships that support student success across New York City.
A Black History Celebration - Collaboration of the Culinary Arts class and the Afro Futurism class
The Black History Month Celebration at Forsyth Satellite Academy was truly an amazing and inspiring event. From start to finish, the energy in the room reflected pride, creativity, and deep student investment. It was powerful to see how engaged the students were, not just as participants, but as leaders and creators of the entire experience.
One of the highlights of the celebration was that the food served at the event was prepared by the students themselves. Their hard work and dedication were evident, and it added a meaningful, personal touch to the gathering. The event also showcased student leadership in media and communications. Student photographers captured special moments throughout the celebration.
A particularly memorable moment was when an aspiring student rapper was given the opportunity to perform in front of his peers and staff. His performance was met with enthusiasm and support, demonstrating how important it is to create spaces where students feel seen, heard, and celebrated.
Overall, this event was more than just a celebration, it was a platform for student voice, talent, and cultural pride. The event beautifully honored Black History while empowering students to take ownership, express themselves creatively, and shine in their own unique ways.
Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Family Engagement series
The Office of Multilingual Learners’ Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Family Engagement series is designed to help educators and school-based staff understand diverse ML/ELL and immigrant families and the intersection of social justice issues impacting students and their families. To register, first log into TeachHub. Then in Pro-Learner enroll for our Spring 2026 series here.
Upcoming Sessions: Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Family Engagement Workshop Series
March 31 and April 14: Engaging and Supporting ML/ELL Arab Students and Families with Malikah
April 21: Immigration and Social Emotional Learning to Support Hispanic Students and Families with the Hispanic Federation
May 6: CRS Family Engagement When Working with Multilingual and Immigrant Students and Families with Liberation Spaces
TBA: Engaging and Supporting ML/ELL and Immigrant African Students and Families with African Communities Together
Resources to Support Access to Food
NYC provides emergency food assistance through food pantries (groceries) and community kitchens (hot meals). Below are resources we have gathered to help families find and locate food assistance:
ACCESS NYC for food locations and applying for SNAP
Food Bank For New York City and Citymeals On Wheels for broader support with eligibility available to everyone regardless of immigration status or income
Plentiful this app will help you to find the nearest food pantry and make a reservation.
OTDA will keep you up to date on Government Food Benefits
The following resources were shared by partners and are organized geographically. Schools can access a comprehensive directory here.
CITYWIDE
BRONX
BROOKLYN
QUEENS
MANHATTAN
STATEN ISLAND
