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Join our Free Info Session to learn what PeerSphere can do for you!

Smarter Parent Communication

Rethinking Engagement in the Digital Age

October 25, Saturday | 1:00-5:00PM
Avenues The World School, Shenzhen

Sponsored by School365

Event Sponsored by School365

This event is free for all participants thanks to the generous sponsorship of School365. Their support makes it possible for us to bring together educators and school administrators for an afternoon of shared learning and collaboration, at no cost to you.

The Why

Across schools, leaders are rethinking how they engage parents. From onboarding new families to building trust over time, communication is a challenge—made even more complex by the fast-evolving digital landscape.

This Peer-to-Peer event brings together leaders, operations staff, and communications professionals to explore smarter, more human ways to connect with families. You’ll learn what’s working, avoid common pitfalls, and discover strategies to align your communication with your school’s values.

Key Benefits

Learn from real cases

Hear proven strategies from schools tackling the same challenges.

Practical tools you can use immediately

From platform rollouts to reducing email fatigue.

Collaborate with peers

Share challenges, compare approaches, and co-create solutions.

Keynote Speaker

Lexi Pang

Communications Strategist, School365

Lexi Peng is a communications strategist who supports international and bilingual schools across China in shaping parent engagement, school branding, and internal communications systems. With a background in journalism and school operations, she brings both storytelling expertise and practical insight to her work with schools. Lexi believes that meaningful communication builds trust—and that trust is the foundation of any successful school community.

Hosts

Ryan J. Baxter

Director of Academic Innovation and Pedagogy, Avenues The World School Shenzhen

Ryan Baxter is the Director of Academic Innovation and Pedagogy at Avenues, bringing 18 years of experience in education, including eight years at Avenues—three in New York and five in Shenzhen. Throughout his career, Ryan has taught grades K-8 and held key leadership roles, including Head of Mathematics, Technology Integrator, and Instructional Coach. Known affectionately as “Mr. B” to his students, Ryan is a firm believer in the transformative power of exploration, expression, and problem-solving. He understands that these experiences not only build perseverance but also nurture the qualities necessary for students to become empathetic, globally-minded citizens.

In his current role, Ryan is dedicated to fostering a collaborative and innovative learning environment. He focuses on empowering both students and educators to engage with meaningful, real-world challenges, ensuring that learning extends beyond the classroom and prepares students to thrive in an interconnected world.

Sophia Deng

International Education and Non-teaching Leadership Professional

Sophia Deng, originally from Guangdong, has over eight years of administrative experience in bilingual and international schools. She spent a decade studying and working in Beijing before serving as Administrative Manager at Harrow Shenzhen. Passionate about fostering cross-cultural relationships and advancing education, Sophia is particularly interested in supporting new and aspiring middle leaders. Since the 2024–25 academic year, she has been pursuing a graduate degree in International Education and Global Leadership at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Education.

Rhythm Zou

Coordinator of Co-Curricular Activities in the Primary Campus, Shekou International School, Shenzhen

Rhythm oversees the planning and implementation of programs that enrich students’ learning beyond the classroom. She works closely with parents through clear and consistent communication, ensuring students enjoy a well-rounded experience that supports both academic achievement and personal growth.

Roberta Ferraz

Director of Technology & Project Management, Avenues The World School, Shenzhen

With over 15 years of EdTech leadership experience, Roberta is passionate about connecting communities and fostering collaboration through thoughtful, human-centered technology.

October 25 (Sat)

1:00 - 5:00 PM

Free

Agenda

Welcome & Framing

Keynote

The Future is Mobile: Rethinking Parent Communication in the Smart Campus Era

How well is your school really communicating with parents? Lexi Peng explores the gap between what schools intend to communicate and what parents actually receive, unpacking the common frustrations of email fatigue, platform overload, and fragmented messaging. Through real-world examples and a look at integrated, mobile-first tools like mini programs, she offers a vision for smarter, more connected communication—along with practical considerations for getting there.

Breakout Room Session

Participate in one of the following Breakout Rooms:

Parent Communication: What’s Actually Working?
Let’s Talk WeChat: Potential and Pitfalls
Real Challenges, Real Solutions (Chinese-language room)

Refreshments Break (30 minutes)

Market Place

Panel and Closing Remarks

School leaders and operations staff will share practical strategies and lessons learned from navigating parent communication challenges in diverse contexts. From onboarding and platform choices to measuring engagement and building trust, expect real stories and actionable insights.

Breakout Rooms

Parent Communication: What’s Actually Working?

Format: Guided group discussion

Focus: Tools, strategies, and challenges across different channels

Prompts:

How do you segment communication for different parent types?
What gets ignored—and why?
Are you seeing message fatigue?

Let’s Talk WeChat: Potential and Pitfalls

Format: Case-led discussion

Focus: How WeChat/mini programs are being used effectively

Join us for an engaging discussion in “Let’s Talk WeChat: Potential and Pitfalls,” where we dive into innovative ways to connect with parents on WeChat! Discover valuable insights and lessons learned from real-world experiences that can enhance your strategies.