Embrace Diverse Schools

“Some people write well. Some speak well. But few do both as well as Eileen.”
Administrator, Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia

Eileen Kugler is passionately committed to building high-achieving diverse schools with engaged students and families.  Through her dynamic keynotes, engaging training programs, and comprehensive consulting, Eileen empowers educators, families, students and entire communities. She breaks through dangerous myth-perceptions and shares proven strategies for building on the unique strengths of multicultural schools and communities so we all benefit.

Eileen is an international leader on engaging families of all backgrounds in school. Whether working with immigrant families in the United States, or inspiring families in a rural township in South Africa, Eileen understands how to connect diverse families with their children’s education to increase student success.

Eileen has been on the front lines of communication for over 25 years. Her varied background includes working as a journalist, information director for a federal agency, and executive of several non-profits. She gained first-hand knowledge of the challenges and rewards of diverse schools as a parent leader in a school near Washington, D.C. facing rapid demographic change. In this large high school with students from some 90 countries and wide-ranging economic status, Eileen combined her professional expertise with her volunteer commitment, developing and implementing an innovative strategy to rebuild crumbling community support.

Collaborating with school administrators and faculty, Eileen reached out to young parents, real estate agents, civic associations, and community service organizations. The effort paid off with enthusiastic support and critical resources flowing to the school. With her guidance, the negative tone of media coverage of the school changed to one of national and international praise.

Today, Eileen works with school districts and communities around the world to share lessons learned.  A dynamic speaker, she shares her message at national and state conferences, as well as at local schools and communities. Her respected articles and commentaries appear in many publications, including USA Today and the Washington Post, Educational Leadership, Education Week, Kappan and magazines from the National PTA, the National School Boards Association, the National School Public Relations Association, and the Family Involvement Network of Educators. The American Association of University Women named Eileen Virginia Education Advocate of the Year.

In her award-winning book, Debunking the Middle-Class Myth: Why Diverse Schools Are Good for All Kids, Eileen documents the educational enhancements for all students at diverse K-12 schools. Based on insights 0f educators, students, and parents from across the country, Eileen found that “students in diverse schools learn to think more deeply, question more intently, and problem-solve more creatively.” She challenges all stakeholders, including parents and community members, to take responsibility for supporting our diverse schools – for the benefit of our communities and our nation.

International Education

South Africa
China
El Salvador