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The mission of San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District was clear: build the district\u2019s positive perception and school community. District leadership recognized that the key to achieving this goal was to strengthen foundational relationships among educators, administrators, and families. To do so, San Marcos CISD partnered with SchoolStatus to implement equitable and transparent communication solutions to connect with and empower students\u2019 families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Relationships for Student Achievement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When Andrew Fernandez joined San Marcos CISD in 2017 as Executive Director of Communications and Community Relations, the district faced challenges that significantly affected community engagement. Leadership at San Marcos wanted to cultivate positive feelings toward the district and a sense of trust and authority within the community\u2014and they needed a strong partner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cMy main goal was about building the community relationships that we have today,\u201d says Fernandez. Fernandez emphasizes the impact of community relationships, positive perception, and engaged families on student achievement. \u201cSome people may think of it as just communicating with families, but honestly, communication is the foundation of building relationships so that students can be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Search for a Relationship-Building Tool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

San Marcos CISD needed a solution that would encourage two-way communication to build relationships and trust. However, most platforms don\u2019t support the type of communication Fernandez wanted to establish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot of times it was us telling the families what to do, what they need, or what\u2019s going on,\u201d Fernandez says. While the outgoing information was important, families couldn\u2019t adequately respond. Selecting a tool that supported conversations was top of the to-do list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why SchoolStatus?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After evaluating other potential solutions, San Marcos CISD selected SchoolStatus Connect\u2019s easy-to-use, centralized communication hub, which allows educators, schools, and districts to establish more meaningful connections with each student\u2019s family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSchoolStatus allows us to have authentic relationships with our families,\u201d explains Fernandez. \u201cAnd they\u2019re able to share with us what they need and what they want and what they desire out of their school journey and their school system. So we get to build better systems because we can hear from our families, and not just tell them what we want them to hear.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How SchoolStatus Helped Build Stronger School-Home Communication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Enabling Equitable Communication<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

San Marcos CISD uses SchoolStatus to get the right messages to the right families in their preferred language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most communication solutions have built-in economic or social barriers. These barriers can include requiring families to download an app, have reliable Wi-Fi, and often, to communicate in English regardless of what language they speak at home. Equity in K-12 communication requires breaking through barriers and reaching families in ways that are direct and convenient for their individual needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SchoolStatus offers \u201cdirect communication to their messages that they use on an everyday basis,\u201d says Fernandez. \u201cAnd it feels authentic.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SchoolStatus automatically translates messages into 130+ languages, bridging communication gaps by communicating with families in their preferred language. Educators can send text messages and emails from their computers or phones, and the messages will be auto-translated into the family\u2019s preferred language. When families return messages, educators can set a preference to have them auto-translated to English. \u201cI love the translation options,\u201d says middle school teacher Vanessa Jackson. \u201c[SchoolStatus] was a godsend during quarantine.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSchoolStatus has really allowed us to be equitable towards all families and adjust to their needs and their desires, because they are our customers,\u201d explains Fernandez. \u201cAnd we want to treat them with the utmost respect and respect the boundaries that they\u2019ve created.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Providing Accountability and Transparency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Effective family communication tools should allow easy access to old conversation records without the need for binders or file cabinets. SchoolStatus does exactly that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All communication logs in SchoolStatus are automatically attached to the Student Card\u2014a digital hub for students that includes assessment scores, absences, notes, communication history, and more. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to make contact,\u201d says SPED teacher Rosalba Merchant. \u201cAnd the documentation is there when you need it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe number one factor of SchoolStatus that we are the proudest of is accountability,\u201d explains Fernandez. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Automatic call transcriptions and text logs in SchoolStatus foster accountability and transparency among educators and schools. \u201cNot only does SchoolStatus allow us as a district to remain accountable by tracking conversations with district staff and families, but it also allows families to be able to look back on conversations. We hold each other accountable because of SchoolStatus,\u201d says Fernandez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With SchoolStatus, districts can set parameters for access based on role. Educators can see their own communication records but not those of others. Principals can access the whole school, and district administrators can access the entire district\u2019s logs. This empowers administrators to be proactive when a situation requires their intervention. It also gives them a clear understanding of the conversation that took place. \u201cIt\u2019s not his word or her word versus anyone. It\u2019s just the facts of the conversation,\u201d says Fernandez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the years since San Marcos began working with SchoolStatus in 2018, two-way communication frequency between school and home has grown exponentially. District and school-wide metrics on the district’s engagement dashboard reflect the growth in conversations with families. During the 2020-2021 school year, there were over 1.5 million text messages exchanged among the school community, significantly increasing from 840,504 in 2020 and 109,539 in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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San Marcos has learned that successful two-way communication needs to be equitable and provide accountability. If your district aims to establish open communication between home and school, Fernandez advises careful consideration when selecting a communication solution. Prioritize the solution that will bridge equity gaps and help your district build genuine relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue the Conversation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SchoolStatus empowers your district to forge meaningful relationships between administrators, your educational staff, and your students\u2019 families. Contact our team<\/a> to see how SchoolStatus can help your district achieve its goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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