Parent Partnership Isn’t Optional—It’s Essential

What if your school didn’t just involve parents—but relied on them as full partners in shaping who students become?

That’s exactly what Grace Preparatory Academy in Arlington, Texas is doing. When I sat down with Dr. Susan Crosier, their head of school, for this week’s podcast, one theme came through loud and clear: parent engagement is the heartbeat of their success.

Grace Prep’s university model blends classroom learning with home-based instruction. But the power of this approach isn’t just in scheduling—it’s in how the school builds shared ownership of student growth. As Dr. Crosier said, “We don’t count students. We count families.”

This partnership comes alive through structured parent-teacher conferences three times a year, each one focused on collaborative goal-setting. Parents aren’t just observers—they’re co-authors of their child’s academic, spiritual, and personal development. The results? Students who are more resilient, better equipped to solve problems, and more engaged in their own learning.

“Our parents don’t drop their kids off and hope for the best—they’re co-creating the learning experience with us, and that changes everything.” - Dr. Crosier

This deep level of engagement feeds directly into Grace Prep’s Portrait of a Graduate, which emphasizes critical thinking, resilience, communication, curiosity, and servant leadership. Rather than just aspiring to these qualities, Grace Prep has redesigned its programming—and even how teachers measure success—to ensure these values are lived out daily. Parents are a vital part of that process, reinforcing the same skills and mindsets at home that students are building on campus.

Now, with the launch of an entrepreneurial mindset program through Seed Tree Group, Grace Prep is taking this even further. Entrepreneurship naturally builds the traits in their graduate portrait—grit, curiosity, communication, and a bias for action—and parent engagement ensures students have a support system that amplifies these skills.

This is why I’m so excited about what’s happening at Grace Prep. Their alignment between family partnership, teacher culture, and student outcomes is rare—and it’s working.

After all, when parents truly partner, students flourish.

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2242119/episodes/17521911

And if you’re ready to build something like this at your school—where entrepreneurship, family partnership, and formation go hand in hand—I’d love to connect. Let’s build something that lasts.

FOUR STEPS TO LAUNCHING AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM

1. Select the teacher - I have a tool to help with selection

2. Identify between eight and twelve students for the pilot class

3. Train and certify the teacher - I have a program for this with curriculum included

4. Start the year-long class - Follow the plan and an on-campus business will be launched mid-year

After the launch, student interest will drive the future growth of the program. For more on the process, visit our website at https://www.seedtreegroup.com/

The future of education is bright indeed!