**Elevating Caretakers: An Investigation Into School Belonging Felt by Caretakers of Families Receiving FA in Independent Schools

​Connecting authentically with a person nurtures visibility and appreciation (Nieto, 1999). Caretakers (parents and guardians) who feel like school administrators care about knowing them will have even more faith that a school will know their child (Moll et al., 1992). This creates a position ripe for partnership. Sustained partnerships between schools and caretakers of students are often instrumental keys to positive student and family school experiences.

Please join me in reviewing my dissertation study, which aimed to center the voice of caretakers of students receiving financial aid. This mixed-methods study used a survey instrument to measure the sense of school belonging for caretakers of students on FA and then conduct semi-structured interviews of a subgroup of caretakers receiving financial aid to identify the reasons why some caretakers of students on financial aid feel a higher sense of belonging than other families on financial aid. Engaging with my research will provide independent school leaders the opportunity to gain information about the sense of school belonging felt by caretakers receiving financial aid directly from caretakers.

This is useful information because many independent schools explicitly state on their websites that they seek to provide a sense of belonging not just for their students but for the caretakers of their enrolled students. Over the years, several caretakers have shared that they do not feel like they fully belong or are accepted within their school community (Collins, 2018; Jack, 2019; Strayhorn, 2018).

I look forward to presenting my methods, my research data and considering ways you can apply this information in your own school context.

​SPEAKER: Jean-Pierre “JP” Jacquet is Director of Financial Aid and Assistant Director of Middle and Upper School Admission at Riverdale Country School. An experienced independent-school leader, he brings a deep commitment to expanding access, strengthening school communities, and helping students and families navigate the admissions and financial-aid processes. JP earned his A.B. in Government from Harvard University and his M.A. in Private School Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. He recently completed his doctoral dissertation at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, where his research examined caregivers’ sense of belonging within school communities. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Breakthrough New York.

​**This session satisfies ISAAGNY's Commitment to Inclusion; please complete this form after you attend.