Her Story
About Dee
Dee Harrison is the Family and Community Engagement Coordinator for one of the second largest K-8 districts in the state of California, located in Bakersfield. She has dedicated 31 years to education, beginning with 10 years as a classroom teacher before moving into academic coaching and ultimately her current role focused on family and community engagement. In this capacity, Harrison oversees 40 to 42 preschool sites and leads staff in engaging and empowering families through two-way relationship building and trust. Her educational background includes graduation from Bakersfield College and Cal State University Bakersfield, along with a master's degree from the University of Phoenix completed in 2003. She is a member of Cohort 2 in the California Engagement Initiative for 6 years and has worked with the national organization Scholastic. Harrison authored a book to provide educators with a playbook for integrating family engagement into their teaching philosophy and daily practice.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dee
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The advice that sticks with me most is about having integrity, doing what's right, knowing that what I'm doing is for the greater purpose, and keeping that in the front of everything I do. It's about doing what's best for kids and helping others see the possibilities without losing my drive and passion. This aligns with what my dad has always taught me.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Family engagement should become part of your philosophy and style of teaching, not just another thing on your plate. It should be part of your nature to bring in families and see students as part of a unit with a family at home. Develop partnerships with parents so you're not alone in the classroom. Have empathy and respect for the families, and include it into your daily practice.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is getting people to have a clear understanding of the value of parent and family engagement and why it's so important. It's beyond just showing up to conferences; it's two-way relationship building and trust. Some staff give pushback, so the challenge is bringing back the why and how family engagement is an instructional strategy that supports teachers and values parents' roles.
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