Highest Aspirations

In this episode of Highest Aspirations, we speak with Sarah Whitfield, an ML Instructional Specialist, about the summer Newcomer Academy she directs. Sarah shares the intentional structure of the program, which is designed to build a strong sense of belonging and identity for middle and high school newcomers. She details a profound shift in her approach—moving from "family engagement" to true "family collaboration"—and discusses a simple yet transformative practice of asking parents about their hopes and dreams for their children. This conversation provides a practical roadmap for creating welcoming environments and building authentic, lasting partnerships with newcomer families.Key questions we address:How can a summer newcomer academy be structured to build a strong sense of identity and belonging for students?What is the difference between "family engagement" and "family collaboration," and what does this shift look like in practice?How can a simple question about a