From the Superintendent Known to "Make Schools Work for the Poor" Comes a New Book for Education Leaders

Dr. Tiffany Anderson, a distinguished educational trailblazer and the first African American female superintendent of Topeka Public Schools, has written a “strikingly practical” guide for educators seeking to foster meaningful connections with parents. Including insights and lessons from the seminal Brown v. Board of Education decision, Building Parent Capacity in High-Poverty Schools: Actions for Authentic Impact is a timely reminder of the importance of parent engagement in the quest for educational equity.

With the release of the book, Dr. Anderson has made several news appearances, including a featured story with CBS evening news.

Building Parent Capacity in High-Poverty Schools

Discover practical strategies to foster meaningful connections with parents and families.

Leveraging her wealth of experience in education, Dr. Anderson underlines the vital role of family engagement and the integration of comprehensive support structures centered around families. Underscoring the importance of nurturing parent capacity and cultivating authentic relationships with parents and community stakeholders, the book enables learning communities where parents are active participants in their child’s educational journey.

Additional features include definitions of parent capacity, involvement, and engagement; "Learned and Lived” stories highlighting school districts successfully supporting families and students; "In Action” sections demonstrating the application of tools and strategies in different contexts; and a discussion of the significance of school funding and resource management.

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Tiffany Anderson speaks to a student in a classroom

Tiffany C. Anderson

After serving as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent, in 2016 Tiffany Anderson EdD, became the first African American female superintendent for Topeka Public Schools in Topeka, Kansas, home of Brown v. Board, the Supreme Court case that ended legal segregation.

The longest serving superintendent in Topeka Public Schools, Dr. Anderson’s leadership has garnered three national Magna Awards from the National School Board Association in recognition of the district’s innovative approaches impacting families and the community. In 2016, she was selected by EDWeek as one of the nation's 16 Leaders to Learn From; in 2023, the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) recognized Dr. Anderson with the national Women in School Leadership Award.

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Featured Resources

Uplifting the Legacy of Brown vs Board of Education by Building Parent Capacity | Corwin Webinar Series

Parents are a child's first educator. Just as we build the capacity of our educators, education leaders must also build the capacity of adults in their learning community serving as parents to current and future students. In this webinar, Dr. Tiffany Anderson reflects on the 70-year legacy of Brown v. Board of Education and offer attendees a framework for building parent capacity.

Listening to the People We Have the Privilege to Serve | Corwin Leaders Coaching Leaders Podcast

Dr. Tiffany Anderson chats with Peter DeWitt and Michael Nelson on the Leaders Coaching Leaders podcast. A dynamic figure in her school community, Dr. Anderson is not just confined to the corridors of academia. She's out there greeting students in the mornings, visiting classrooms, and interacting with parents in the community; she's fundamentally reshaping what it means to be a school leader, all while wearing her characteristic white sneakers

From the Superintendent Known to "Make Schools Work for the Poor" Comes a New Book for Education Leaders

Building Parent Capacity in High-Poverty Schools

Tiffany C. Anderson

Featured Resources

Uplifting the Legacy of Brown vs Board of Education by Building Parent Capacity | Corwin Webinar Series

Listening to the People We Have the Privilege to Serve | Corwin Leaders Coaching Leaders Podcast

Topeka Public Schools In The News

Brown vs. Board: Topeka's first Black female superintendent talks about equity, leadership (SmartBrief)

Black Students Are in Crisis. These School Leaders Are Helping. (Word in Black)

Brown v. Board of Education was a result of parental activism (St. Louis American)

For Topeka's superintendent, Brown v. Board is a reminder of the importance of parent engagement (KCUR 89.3)

Boots on the ground: Topeka superintendent meets families where they are (K-12 Dive)

Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Dr Tiffany Anderson of Topeka Public Schools Is Helping To Change Our World (Authority Magazine)

Superintendent Tiffany Anderson joins 97.1FM Talk

How Brown v. Board of Education informed Topeka superintendent Tiffany Anderson's book (Yahoo! News)

Local superintendent writes book on parent involvement in schools (13 WIBW)

Brown v. Board: How its impacts are still felt 70 years later (KSNT)

Topeka was at the center of Brown v. Board. Decades later, segregation of another sort lingers (AP News)

70th anniversary of Brown v Board of Education (Mark Reardon Show)

Topeka Public Schools’ superintendent signs copies of her book (WIBW)