Middletown, CT – The Middletown Public Schools is pleased to announce it has received a $7,500 grant from the Liberty Bank Foundation to support the district's Family Engagement Liaisons (FELs). This grant will provide valuable professional development opportunities for the FELs to increase their capacity in research-supported best practices for cultivating family, school, and community partnerships and strategies for reducing student chronic absenteeism.

"We are incredibly grateful to Liberty Bank Team for this generous grant," said Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos, Superintendent of Middletown Public Schools. "Strong family-school partnerships are crucial for student success. This funding will allow our Family Engagement Liaisons to deepen their knowledge around fostering meaningful connections between homes, schools, and the wider Middletown community."

Our corporate brand to ‘Be Community Kind’ are more than just words, it’s a standard we strive to achieve everyday through volunteerism and investment in rewarding programs and causes,” said David W. Glidden, President & CEO. “The critical role of Family Engagement Liaisons and our support of the job they do in Middletown perfectly aligns with our mission to improve the lives of our customers, teammates and communities for generations to come. It’s an investment clearly worth making”

The $7,500 grant from the Liberty Bank Foundation represents an important contribution to the Middletown Public Schools' larger strategic efforts to increase family, school, and community partnerships across the district. Middletown Public Schools has also recently become a Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP) District through the Connecticut State Department of Education and is participating in CREC's federally funded CT Family-School Partnerships program.

The Family Engagement Liaisons play a vital role in the district by supporting open communication, volunteering opportunities, and collaborative partnerships to enable all families to better support their children's academic learning. With enhanced professional development made possible by the Liberty Bank Foundation grant, the FELs will be even better equipped to implement best practices from leading research.

About Middletown Public Schools

Middletown Public Schools (MPS) serves more than 4,300 diverse students, preschool through adult education, across its educational facilities. MPS is committed to empowering each child to take an active role in their educational journey, which is facilitated by dedicated educators and staff who create inclusive, innovative learning environments that prepare students for success in an ever-changing world. In collaboration with families and the community, Middletown Public Schools cultivates the brilliance in each student.

About Liberty Bank Foundation

Since its inception in 1997, Liberty Bank Foundation has awarded $18 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Liberty Bank’s market area.  Following the Bank’s ‘Be Community Kind’ spirit, the Foundation seeks to improve the lives of individuals and families by investing in three key areas:  Education & Training, Affordable Housing, and Food.