PART 1: Setting the stage—Why communication matters at Westlawn

Written by Alanna Dushok

School-Based Technology Specialist at Fairfax County Public Schools

Westlawn Elementary School, a Title I school serving a dynamic community in Falls Church, Virginia, thrives on the belief that meaningful partnerships between the school and families are critical to student success. The school’s vision is centered on partnering with the community to provide every child the support necessary to achieve their highest potential. This commitment to collaboration is highlighted by Westlawn’s deep engagement with families and community, making “Communication with Families” the first of the school’s Ten Reasons to Love Westlawn. To uphold this pillar, Westlawn has embraced TalkingPoints, the leading universal family engagement platform, which has profoundly transformed the way staff interact with the diverse Westlawn community.

Westlawn’s community is enriched by a wide variety of socioeconomic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds across its approximate 750-student population. Families at Westlawn speak 16 languages at home, with 64% speaking Spanish, 27% speaking English, and 5% speaking Vietnamese. In this context, effective communication is paramount, but historically challenging. TalkingPoints addresses these challenges head-on, providing a two-way text messaging service utilized by all staff members, from classroom teachers to administrators to coaches and specialists. 

Westlawn’s commitment to leveraging this platform is evident in its usage metrics: the school was the 6th highest user of TalkingPoints across Fairfax County Public Schools in 2023–2024, and rose to 5th place in 2024–2025. To put these numbers in perspective, Fairfax County Public Schools is the 9th largest school district in the nation with over 223 schools, all of which use TalkingPoints as a communication tool.

See TalkingPoints in action—watch a 90-second explainer video.

Celebrating 10 years of partnership and impact

For a decade, TalkingPoints has supported students, families, and educators through the power of effective family-school partnerships. As an education technology nonprofit, our award-winning communication and family engagement platform has improved outcomes for districts and students across the country.

We connect 9 million+ educators, students, and family members annually and have facilitated more than one billion conversations—building trust, fostering relationships, and fueling student success. Named by Common Sense Education as “the best overall family communication platform for teachers and schools,” TalkingPoints drives measurable gains in attendance and academic achievement, backed by rigorous, causal research.

Join us in building a future where every child has the support they need to thrive.