Albuquerque Public Schools
Strengthening Partnerships, Strengthening Students: Inside APS's Family Engagement Unit
Empowering staff, families and caregivers to work together so every student feels supported, connected and valued.
November is Family Engagement Month, and across Albuquerque Public Schools, this work is more than an initiative—it’s a mindset. At the center of that mindset is the APS Family Engagement Unit, a team dedicated to helping schools build strong, trusting partnerships with the families and caregivers who know students best.
“Family engagement isn’t an ‘extra’ task, it’s an essential part of how we help students thrive,” Naomi Bowers, manager of Family Engagement, said. “When schools and families work in partnership, students experience a stronger sense of belonging, more consistent support and deeper confidence in their own abilities.”
Bowers emphasized that families bring deep knowledge, history and insight about their children, while educators bring instructional expertise and an understanding of learning. When these strengths come together, students benefit academically, socially and emotionally. The unit’s mission is to help every school make that partnership intentional and actionable.
Supporting Schools Through Real Challenges
Team members in the Family Engagement Unit understand the pressures facing schools: competing priorities, limited time, staffing constraints and the difficulty of reaching families who may face language, transportation or scheduling barriers. For some educators, even knowing where to start can feel daunting.
“Our team helps staff move from a compliance-based view of engagement toward a purposeful partnership mindset,” Bowers explained. “Through coaching, planning tools and reflective conversations, we support school teams in setting clear goals, designing equitable practices and building the confidence to connect with families in ways that authentically support student learning.”
The unit’s work focuses on creating conditions that foster strong and sustainable family-school partnerships. This includes professional learning, resource development, coaching and technical assistance for school teams looking to build welcoming cultures and embed engagement into everyday practice.
Whether training family liaisons, supporting shared decision-making structures or helping teams create data-informed engagement plans, the goal is the same: to ensure welcoming, relationship-centered practices become the norm in every school.
“We work with schools to assess their current practices, identify priorities and design strategies that reflect their community’s strengths and needs,” Bowers said. “Our role is to support and strengthen the systems that make engagement possible.”
Initiatives Making an Impact
Several initiatives this year highlight the unit’s commitment to both staff capacity and family participation:
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Family Liaison professional development to build clarity, confidence and community among practitioners.
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Guardrail 4.2 support, helping schools increase family representation on Instructional Councils.
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Partnership with Explora on Family Science Nights, creating joyful learning experiences for families and students.
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SEL Family Engagement Event Train-the-Trainer workshops, equipping staff to lead relationship-centered family events.
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STEP Workshops, guiding school teams in designing actionable, strengths-based engagement plans.
Together, these efforts create more purposeful and welcoming opportunities for families to connect with their schools and with their students’ learning.
Welcoming All Forms of Family
The Family Engagement Unit also champions inclusivity in every corner of the district. That includes ensuring grandparents, guardians, extended relatives and other caregivers are welcomed and valued.
“In APS, we recognize and honor the many forms family can take,” Bowers added. “We help staff use inclusive language, adopt flexible communication practices and design engagement structures that ensure every caregiver feels seen, respected and invited into school life.”
For the team, it comes down to honoring relationships—because strong relationships strengthen student success.