Parent & Family Engagement

October 16-18, 2024

Statewide Conference

HOUSTON, TX

Marriott Westchase

Join us October 16-18 in Houston!

Registration Cost $325.

Make purchase orders to

Region 16 Education Service Center

5800 Bell St.

Amarillo, TX 79109

The PFE Conference

This annual event features keynote speakers, breakout sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities that bring together parents, families, educators, and community members from across Texas to learn about and share best practices for engaging parents and families in their children's education as well as many other Title I, Part A topics such as:

  • Parent & Family Engagement

  • School Safety & Wellness

  • Social and Emotional Strategies

  • Homelessness

  • Effective Communication

  • Career, College, and Military Readiness

  • Technology

  • English Learners

  • ESSA 1116

  • Attendance

Lodging or Hotel Accommodations

To accommodate all our registered conference attendees and protect the integrity of the hotel booking feature, hotel reservations must correspond to the name of a registered conference attendee.

Reservations that do not have a matching attendee name will be canceled within seven days.

We appreciate your help in following this policy. Your cooperation makes it a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone. 

Click image to download PDF file.

The room block at the Houston Marriott Westchase is now full. Please see overflow hotel information below. 

The group rate is $122 (or prevailing government per diem) per night for single and double occupancy plus applicable taxes and fees.

Room rate is available to attendees 10/14/24-10/19/24.

The cutoff date for sleeping room reservations is 9/13/2024 or when the block is filled, whichever comes first.

Hotel Phone reservations can be made by calling, 1-888-236-2427 and identifying as part of the group, ”Parent Engagement.”

Cancellation Policy-72 Hours. Customers will be charged for 1 night’s room rate.

Additional Overflow Hotel

Houston Hilton Westchase

9999 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77042

Phone: (713) 974-1000

Questions?

Contact the PFE Statewide Initiative.  t1pfe@esc16.net or 806-677-5166.

Courtyard Houston Westchase

975 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77042

Phone: (713) 784-3003

Keynotes

Horacio Sanchez

Horacio Sanchez is a highly sought-after speaker and educational consultant, helping schools learn to apply neuroscience to improve educational outcomes.  He presents on diverse topics such as overcoming the impact of poverty, improving school climate, engaging in brain-based instruction, and addressing issues related to implicit bias. He is recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on resiliency and applied brain science.

Horacio has been a teacher, administrator, clinician, mental health director, and consultant to school districts across the United States. Horacio sits on True Health Initiative Council of Directors, a coalition of more than 250 world-renowned health experts, committed to educating on proven principles of lifestyle as medicine. He is the author of the best-selling book, The Education Revolution, which applies brain science to improve instruction, behaviors, and school climate.  His new book, The Poverty Problem, explains how education can promote resilience and counter poverty’s impact on brain development and functioning.

Register to see Horacio Sanchez on October 16.

Dr. Karen Mapp

Karen L. Mapp, EdD, is a Professor of Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). Over the past twenty-five years, her research and practice focus has been the cultivation of partnerships among families, community members and educators that support student achievement and school improvement.  Dr. Mapp holds a Doctorate and Master’s of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Master’s from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Bachelor’s from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.

Dr. Mapp is the author and co-author of several articles and books including: Partners in Education: A Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships (2014); “Powerful Partnerships: A Teacher’s Guide to Engaging Families for Student Success” (2017), Embracing a New Normal: Toward a More Liberatory Approach to Family Engagement (2021), and Everyone Wins!: The Evidence for Family-School Partnerships and Implications for Practice (2022).

Register to see Dr. Karen Mapp on October 17.

Ernesto Mejia

Ernesto Mejia, the proud son of Mexican immigrants, is a true example of the American dream. Diagnosed with the rare disease of Guillain- Barré Syndrome at the age of 16 that left him temporarily paralyzed, he was not supposed to be a successful student, much less a College Dean of Students. Through his hardships, Ernesto learned to never give up on life. He now speaks to students, parents, and teachers about overcoming obstacles and never giving up on the American dream: education.

Register to see Ernesto Mejia on October 18.

Breakout Sessions

All information is subject to change.

Apply to be an Exhibitor at the PFE Conference.

To view the Application Guidelines for exhibiting at the 2024 PFE Conference, click here.

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