Consulting and Speaking Engagements

Ken Futernick (and his associates) are available for speaking engagements and in-person and remote consulting on matters related to our mission, including:

  • Improving communication among school administrators, board members, teachers, parents, and students.

  • Improving school climate (data gathering and improvement strategies). As Director of the School Turnaround Center at WestEd, Dr. Futernick develop tools to monitor and strengthen school climate He and his team conducted workshops that dramatically improved relationships and collaboration among teachers, staff, and administrators.

  • Community and parent engagement. Cultivating trust, support, and a healthy civic culture can inoculate a district against harmful and distracting attacks. Our upcoming, 3-part podcast series about Middletown, Ohio is an excellent case study.

  • Labor-management collaboration often results in better contracts and improved student learning. Dr. Futernick is the author of The Courage to Collaborate - The Case for Labor-Management Partnerships in Education (2016), Harvard Education Press.

  • Improving students’ social and emotional learning through vibrant classroom conversations, community building, and authentic character education.

  • Conducting “Schoolhouse Conversations” to strengthen public engagement. These conversations, like ones promoted at Living Room Conversations, enable education stakeholders to have rich, civil dialogue on any topic that impacts a school system.

  • Addressing chronic absenteeism. Since the pandemic, student absenteeism has soared in many districts across the country. Dr. Futernick is currently assisting school and community leaders in an Ohio community, where 45% of the students are chronically absent from school.

  • Superintendent coaching. Dr. Futernick can tap his network of experienced school leaders to assist superintendents on all aspects of school leadership.

Futernick leading a 2023 forum on “Wokeism in Schools” at the Google Community Space in San Francisco. This event was sponsored by Braver Angels.

Futernick is the keynote speaker for Irvine Unified’s 2023 Administrator Advance in southern California. Topic: “Polarization and its Impact on School Systems and Communities”

Fees

When possible, travel expenses, consulting, and speaking fees can be offset by grant funding and donations.

Contact

Please send inquiries to Natalie Millanes (natalie@scholconversations.org).

What Clients Are Saying…

Sample comments from district board members and administrators who attended a half-day “bridging” retreat facilitated by Dr. Futernick. These are aspects of the retreat they cited as highlights.

  • Ken. Calming personality. Wonderful knowledge. Bringing diverse people together.

  • Learning to listen to understand and to get to know one another better.

  • The communications tools and systems we can learn to utilize as a district to better communicate and bridge divides.

  • Establishing norms and communications protocols.

  • Aligning positive conversations with Living Room Conversations. Giving space for admin/cabinet and board to share.

  • Connecting and communicating with the board in a “schoolhouse conversation” model.

  • Learning that foundational work is vital to making progress.