Starting in 2015, I developed an adult lecture series for parents of my students and others in our community. My hope was simple: to create a space where families could learn together. The results have been incredible. Many adults come into these sessions with only a devotional framework for thinking about religion — an approach that’s both common and deeply meaningful, but one that isn’t appropriate for our public school classrooms.

These lectures introduce parents to the same frameworks their kids are using in class — exploring religion as a complex, dynamic force without ever imposing a particular perspective. From the start, parents see the value of this approach and why it matters, not just for their children but for our larger community. For many, this is their first real exposure to religious studies as an academic discipline. Along the way, we’ve had honest conversations about the rights of students, the content of the curriculum, and how to navigate questions or concerns that sometimes arise from the broader community.

When these topics are addressed with clarity and care, the result is a stronger, more supportive environment for our students and for the important work of religious literacy education. This program has grown into one of my favorite parts of the job. It builds understanding, strengthens trust, and creates a shared language between classrooms and households. In 2019, the National Summit on Religion and Education affirmed this language and its importance in their report, which you can download here.