Over the past three years, Burrell School District has been quietly transforming the way families and schools connect—and it all started with a conversation around a fire.

What began as a vision from Dr. Autumn Turk, Burrell School District's Director of Curriculum and Development and co-lead of the initiative, has evolved into a districtwide movement known as Parents as Allies (PAA). Alongside her, parent and Community Health Worker Twaina Williams serves as co-lead, and Burrell High School teacher Adam Rossi contributes as a dedicated team member. Together, they have been instrumental in fostering authentic engagement that positively impacts the community.

“I was already working with families in the district and trying to change the narrative after my own family had gone through some difficult times,” said Ms. Williams. “When Dr. Turk asked me to help lead this work, it felt like the perfect fit. Who better to partner with than someone already doing the work in the community?”

The group’s signature Fireside Chats emerged after surveys, interviews, and lots of listening. “We wanted to get everyone—parents, teachers, students, and community members—in one room to talk openly,” said Williams. “People felt heard, and that broke down barriers. Whether it was offering childcare, food, or asking the right questions, we made sure everyone could show up.”

For Mr. Rossi, the Chats were about trust and shared humanity. “We agreed that around a fire, people let their guard down. You stop being just a teacher or a parent or an administrator and start being just… a person,” he said. “That’s how honest conversations happen.”

Community Connections Night was created based on ideas shared during the Fireside Chats, while long-standing events like Light the Season received additional support through Parents as Allies. “When families told us they wanted to be more involved and share their talents, we listened — and we acted,” Williams said. “Parents as Allies didn’t just organize new events — we showed up, helped fund, and offered hands-on support to existing ones.”

While family engagement at the high school level remains a work in progress, Rossi sees a shift. “We’ve had dozens of high school students volunteer for these events. And I’ve learned that parents want to hear from us, not just when something’s wrong. A quick positive note goes a long way.”

The future of PAA includes more building-level activities and deeper partnerships. As Ms. Williams puts it, 

“If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Everyone — students, parents, staff, community — has a seat at the table.”

And thanks to the vision sparked by Dr. Turk and fueled by committed leaders like Williams and Rossi, that table keeps getting bigger.