From Symbolic to Authentic Family Reengagement Approaches: School and District Leaders’ Adaptations After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Family engagement has long been a priority for educators, policymakers, and researchers, and educational leaders play a crucial role in this process. Despite their importance, leaders are often underprepared to engage families authentically and encounter challenges in their attempts to build positive relationships with family members. This qualitative study examines how 25 educational leaders in four schools adapted family engagement practices in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings add to family engagement frameworks while offering implications for leadership preparation, policy, and future research. This study further highlights the need for contextually nuanced approaches to family engagement in this post-pandemic moment.