On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Forest Park School District 91 hosted a Parent University Academic Series workshop titled “Raising Readers: Partnering with Families to Build a Community of Lifelong Learners.” The event, held at Grant White Elementary School’s library, was led by Jennifer Uhlmann, Academic Coach at D91, and welcomed families from across the district.
Ms. Uhlmann emphasized the purpose of the evening:
“I want caregivers to leave feeling encouraged and supported—knowing they’re not alone. Literacy is a community effort, and the work happening in D91 is designed to empower families as much as students. My hope is that parents feel positive about the practical strategies we’re building together and confident as partners in helping every child grow as a reader and learner.”
Spotlight on Literacy and Family Engagement
The workshop focused on equipping parents and caregivers with practical strategies and resources to support literacy at home. Mrs. Uhlmann provided families with a detailed look at the English Language Arts curriculum for all grade levels and explained how the science of teaching reading has evolved in recent years. Attendees gained valuable insights into evidence-based approaches that foster early and sustained literacy, a critical factor in both academic success and personal growth.
Practical Tools for Families
In addition to curriculum highlights, families were introduced to a variety of resources and routines they can use at home to reinforce what students are learning in the classroom. These included strategies for reading together, building strong comprehension skills, and encouraging a love of books that extends beyond the school day.
Parents also shared reflections about what they learned during the session:
“I'm leaving this workshop knowing that I can support my son by having more conversations about what he is reading. I learned this can start by me just asking questions about what he is learning! I feel like I understand more about reading comprehension and what my expectations should be at home.”
— Jacenia Penson
“I'm leaving tonight with a better understanding of how important the connection between conversation, reading and writing are to my daughter's academic success. I'm excited to use what I learned tonight to make learning at home a positive experience!”
— Ashley Fewell
A Strong Step Toward Lifelong Learning
The evening reflected D91’s ongoing commitment to family engagement and student success. Parents and caregivers left with a clearer understanding of the curriculum, practical tools for supporting literacy, and inspiration to nurture the love of reading at home.
We also extend our thanks to the Forest Park Public Library for being present to provide library card sign-up and programming information—an important contribution to our shared commitment to literacy and a partnership we deeply value.
Don't miss out on the next workshop, Math University, on October 21, 2025 from 6-7:30. Register here for this free event for D91 caregivers.