Community Engagement: Grain Valley Schools
The challenge
Grain Valley Schools found itself navigating through a period of heightened tension and differing perspectives within the community. Conversations about inclusion and belonging had become emotionally charged, and leaders recognized a need to bring people together around shared values. Rather than focusing on the points of disagreement, the district sought to create opportunities for understanding — spaces where students, staff, and families could listen, connect, and reaffirm their collective commitment to ensuring every child feels welcome and supported.
Our approach
CESO partnered closely with district leadership to design a process that prioritized listening, structure and safety. We helped shift the focus from controversy to community by framing the engagement around belonging — a value everyone could rally behind.
Our team guided Grain Valley through a multi-step process that included:
Student Voice
Conducting student focus groups and surveys to capture authentic youth perspectives.
Structured Dialogue
Designing small-group “table conversations” with local facilitators as well as shared communication agreements to ensure every voice was heard and honored.
Staff Facilitation Training
Preparing educators and staff to lead productive, impartial discussions, complete with guidance on de-escalation, active listening and neutral facilitation.
Community Collaboration
Balancing participation across parents, students and community members, with media permitted only as observers to preserve the integrity of the dialogue.
The event drew more than 150 participants, including students, parents, teachers and residents who came ready to listen and be heard. Participants embraced the structured format, echoing Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle’s reflection that “CESO’s process for stakeholder engagement ensured we had input from anyone who wished to be heard, while also diving deeper with smaller groups of students and adults. The provided report summarizing the input has been well-received by those who participated, which tells me they recognize their input in its pages.” Many community members expressed gratitude for a space where civility replaced confrontation and their voices were reflected meaningfully in the outcomes.
Our impact
The engagement re-centered community discourse around a shared goal: creating schools where every student feels they belong.
- Rebuilt Trust: Participants reported greater understanding of differing perspectives and a renewed belief that the district values student well-being above politics.
- Board and Administrative Alignment: The process helped leadership reframe the issue as one of school climate and culture — a turning point in how they moved forward together.
- Sustainable Practice: The facilitation guide and training materials developed for Grain Valley have since informed CESO’s model for community dialogues across multiple districts
CESO’s process for stakeholder engagement ensured we had input from anyone who wished to be heard, while also diving deeper with smaller groups of students and adults.
– Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle