Klein ISD Earns Statewide Recognition for Family Engagement Innovation
In a proud moment for the Klein community, Klein Independent School District has been named one of only four districts in the state to receive the 2025 Anita Villarreal Innovation in Engagement Award. The prestigious honor, presented by the Title I, Part A Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Initiative, celebrates exceptional achievements in family and parent involvement that directly drive student success.
The award is granted to school districts and campuses that show measurable gains in student performance as a result of strategic, goal-oriented collaboration between families and educators. Klein ISD’s innovative family engagement framework and a strong foundation of inclusive practices set it apart in this competitive field.
A Proven Commitment to Parents as Partners
Klein ISD’s recognition is the result of years of intentional investment in family-school partnerships. Through its Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Family Engagement (MTSS-FE), the district has embedded family collaboration into the very core of academic, attendance, behavioral, and basic needs supports.
“We are deeply honored and grateful to have received the 2025 Anita Villarreal Innovation in Engagement Award,” said Maria Ovalle Lopez, Director of Family Engagement at Klein ISD. “This prestigious recognition celebrates our district’s steadfast commitment to fostering strong, intentional family-school partnerships that are fundamental to supporting student achievement. Our framework empowers our staff to precisely tailor resources and supports that directly enhance student academic performance, powerfully driving forward our Promise2Purpose vision.”
That vision — which commits to ensuring every student “enters with a promise and exits with a purpose” — is supported through meaningful programs like Klein ISD’s Parent University, family literacy and ESL classes, Family-School Liaisons, and even creative outlets like the Klein ISD Parent Orchestra.
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A Strategic, Data-Driven Engagement Plan
According to the district’s 2025–2026 Family Engagement Plan, Klein ISD builds trust and understanding by ensuring families are equipped to support their children’s education both at home and in school. The district uses data and annual evaluations to refine efforts, align programs with student needs, and sustain two-way communication with families in multiple languages.
Campuses are encouraged to host family-centered events, meetings, and volunteer opportunities — both in-person and virtually — making engagement accessible and impactful. Additionally, Klein ISD allocates 1% of its Title I funding for family engagement initiatives, including childcare, transportation, and home visit expenses to remove barriers to participation.
Leadership Support and Community Involvement
Klein ISD Superintendent Dr. Jenny McGown credited both the Family Engagement team and Klein families for the success.
“Family engagement is deeply connected to a child’s success. Parents are our students’ first and forever teachers,” McGown said. “By intentionally investing in our parent-school partnership, we’re ensuring students and families receive the support they need to thrive. We are so proud of the excellent work that our Family Engagement team has done to earn this state-level recognition of excellence. Thank you to our fantastic staff and, of course, our involved and dedicated parents in Klein ISD.”
This marks Klein ISD’s fifth state-level recognition in the area of parent engagement. The district hopes to continue building momentum and welcoming even more families into the process as partners in education.
As part of the district’s ongoing commitment, the 2025–2026 Family Engagement Plan was developed jointly with parents and community members and officially adopted by the Klein ISD Parent & Family Engagement Advisory Committee on September 17, 2025.
For more information about Klein ISD’s family engagement programs or to get involved, families can contact Director Maria Ovalle Lopez at 832-249-4386 or visit kleinisd.net.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
