Family engagement is highly correlated to student academic performance. The goal of the school community as a whole is to come together to ensure that academic success takes place. For this study, interviews and questionnaires were administered to 20 participants and qualitative data was analyzed to note the impact of site leaders on parent engagement. The research was based on Karen Mapps’s model of parent engagement, and special focus was placed on the Nine Essential Conditions that need to be in place for true family engagement to take place. Narrative stories and a three-school comparison were used to analyze the results and align them to Karen Mapp and Paul Kuttner’s model of parental involvement. The results showed that relationships and systemized programs across the board as well as professional development are integral for establishing true transformational change at the school level. Keywords: family engagement, parents, principal impact, academic achievement
