FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

THROUGH STORYTELLING

AND PODCASTING:

A TOOLKIT ​FOR WASHINGTON

STATE'S K-12 SCHOOLS
Family engagement is a cornerstone of student success, and storytelling is a powerful tool for understanding families' experiences and strengthening their ties to school.  In 2025, Roots of Inclusion, with support from the Washington Statewide Family Engagement Center, launched a seven-episode podcast series about family engagement in Washington State called Rooted in Washington.  Taken from the lessons learned as part of that process, this toolkit provides strategies for using storytelling, including podcasting, to foster meaningful connections among schools, families, and communities. 

WHAT'S INSIDE THE TOOLKIT?

This toolkit offers practical guidance, thoughtful reflection, and real-world examples to help you use storytelling as a tool for connection, advocacy, and systems change, especially in educational spaces. Whether you are a family member, educator, or community leader, this resource supports you in creating space for stories that matter.
Inside the toolkit:
✨ Why Storytelling Matters in Education
Learn how personal stories shift mindsets, deepen understanding, and move systems toward equity and inclusion.

🌿 Creating a Welcoming Environment
Discover how to build a space so that people feel ready and supported to share their stories.

🗣️ Eliciting and Sharing Stories
Explore tips for considering where the best stories and storytellers can be found.

❓ Generating Meaningful Questions
Tips for asking the questions that encourage deep listening and uncover the values, hopes, and lived experiences behind the story.

🌍 Being a Culturally Reflective and Adaptive Host
Ideas shared about the importance of authentic representation and creating a respectful storytelling environment.

⚖️ Legal and Ethical Considerations
Guidance on how to respect privacy, secure consent, and share responsibly without fear.

♿ Making It More Inclusive
Design your storytelling space and formats so that everyone can participate fully, with strategies to go beyond basic accessibility.

🎙️ Podcasting as a Tool for Family Engagement
See how podcasting can open up new ways for families to be heard, connected, and empowered—plus tips to get started.

🏫 Lessons from Schools Using Storytelling
Learn from real examples of schools using storytelling to build community, foster belonging, and reimagine inclusion.
EXPLORE THE TOOLKIT

ACCESS THE PODCAST

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​Bellevue, WA.  98008
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