Come on Collaboration!

When parents and teachers work together, truly incredible things can happen. A strong, collaborative partnership between home and school creates a united front, ensuring that the child receives consistent support, guidance, and encouragement in every aspect of their life. Open, honest communication between parents and educators provides a much clearer and more complete picture of what’s happening in a child’s world—both academically at school and personally at home (Powell, 2025).

Let me share a personal experience that perfectly highlights the importance and value of this collaboration. Not long ago, I received a message from my school administration asking me to call the guardian of one of my students. Naturally, I made sure to reach out as soon as I had the opportunity. Initially, I wasn’t entirely sure what the conversation would be about, as this particular student hadn’t exhibited any behavioral or academic issues. During the call, the guardian explained that their child had come home asserting that he was being made to sit alone at lunch and that he was receiving counseling, which the child had interpreted as a license to disregard parental authority at home. To say I was completely stunned would absolutely be an understatement—none of this was remotely true!

Maintaining a calm and professional demeanor, I carefully clarified the situation as best I could. I assured the guardian that their child was not, in fact, being forced to sit alone during lunch. I also explained that he was not receiving counseling at school, and I speculated that there might have been some confusion or misunderstanding. For example, another student in the same class had been seated apart at lunch due to ongoing behavioral issues, and it seemed possible that the child might have misinterpreted or misrepresented what he saw. I also emphasized that, were such a scenario to ever involve their child directly, I would inform them immediately and without delay.

Regarding the comment about counseling, I traced it back to an activity that had taken place the previous Friday when our guidance counselor visited the classroom. During her visit, she explained her role in the school and shared lessons centered on kindness, empathy, and positive interactions. At no point during her visit did the counselor hold one-on-one sessions with this child or suggest that he didn’t need to follow household rules. Even after speaking calmly and directly to the student himself, I wasn’t able to determine why he had fabricated such a detailed story, and, frustratingly, he couldn’t explain why he had done it either.

Fortunately, the guardian and I had already established a positive and collaborative working relationship. This strong foundation of mutual trust and respect allowed us to address the misunderstanding quickly, effectively, and amicably. Without that prior communication and trust, the situation could have taken a much more challenging turn. The guardian might have chosen to bypass me entirely, going straight to the head teacher or school administration, or additional meetings and discussions might have been required to clarify and resolve everything.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation like this one? Did maintaining open communication between the teacher and family play a key role in resolving it? If so, how did that ongoing dialogue help make a difference? I would love to hear about your experiences! Share your stories in the comments section below—your insights and perspectives are always welcome and will help other parents and educators!