Parents as Partners

In this session, early childhood educators will explore strategies for fostering meaningful partnerships with parents to support young children’s development and learning. Participants will gain insight into effective communication techniques, family engagement practices, and ways to create a collaborative, inclusive environment where parents feel empowered as active participants in their child's education. This presentation will also address common challenges in teacher-parent relationships and offer practical solutions for building trust, maintaining ongoing dialogue, and aligning educational goals between home and school.

Kayte Gut is a professor of Early Childhood Education at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, with over two decades of experience in educational ministry. Her ministry began as the lead teacher and assistant director at Lambs of Grace Child Development Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. She then accepted a Call to Abiding Word in Houston, Texas, where she held multiple roles, including director, lead teacher for four-year-olds, first-grade teacher, and athletic director. Subsequently, Kayte served as the preschool director at Shepherd of the Valley in Westminster, Colorado. Throughout her career, she has emphasized the importance of active, student-centered learning, advocating that children thrive when they are engaged and take ownership of their educational experiences.