As we continue into our exciting summer training season, we’re thrilled to introduce the incredible team leading our REAL Family Engagement training efforts for the upcoming school year. This dedicated group works to ensure that our trainings and products are grounded in research, developed alongside Flamboyan’s cohort of trainers and ambassadors, and are engaging experiences that allow educators, locally in DC and nationally across the country, to explore what it means to foster meaningful family engagement in their roles. Their expertise and passion drive our mission, empowering educators and school leaders to create impactful connections with families so that students most impacted by inequity are prepared to succeed in school and beyond. Get to know the phenomenal individuals making it all happen!
Meet Epernay Kyles, Director, Training + Facilitation
At Flamboyan, Epernay “Eppie” leads in-person and virtual facilitation for all of Flamboyan’s REAL Family Engagement training for Pre-K -12 educators, education leaders, and community non-profit family engagement practitioners.
She also assists with the development of content, resources, and products. Epernay is committed to working in education because she comes from a family of educators, so it came as no surprise when she became a teacher and saw firsthand the power of education and the impact it can make not only on a child’s life, but how it can impact an entire community.
Prior to joining Flamboyan, Eppie taught pre-kindergarten and kindergarten in DC Charter and DC Public Schools for more than a decade. She served as a family engagement team lead and Flamboyan Teacher Trainer for seven years. Since 2020, Epernay has been a faculty member with Moreland University instructing in the teacher preparation program.
Eppie is originally from Memphis, TN and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill so she loves all things related to UNC sports and the Memphis Grizzlies. Outside of Flamboyan, she loves to travel and explore new restaurants in DC.
What drew you to Flamboyan?
I was introduced to Flamboyan 10 years ago while teaching at Garrison Elementary. Garrison was part of the Family Engagement Partnership (FEP) in 2014, so I did home visits, academic parent-teacher team (APTT) meetings, and ongoing communication. Before Garrison, I taught in charter schools that held traditional parent-teacher conferences that were very teacher-driven and one-sided. When I first had an APTT meeting at Garrison, it was a transformational experience. We discussed social and emotional goals with families. Families were able to collaborate with other families. We were creating a true academic partnership.
Two years later, I became a FELT leader at Garrison and joined Flamboyan’s cohort of teacher trainers. I was part of the teacher trainer cohort until last August, when I joined the Training and Development team full-time.
Why does REAL Family Engagement matter to you?
I personally saw my teaching practice change in schools with leaders who championed REAL family engagement. They made time and space for teachers and families to get to know each other and became co-collaborators in the students’ education.
What are your hopes and dreams for our trainings, especially as our trainers and ambassadors prepare for a new school year?
I’m really excited to see our new training and ambassador cohort take the lead in the trainings. This will be my 9th training season and seeing new champions for REAL Family Engagement is exciting.
In your role, what are you most excited about in the upcoming training season?
Our new group of trainers and ambassadors.