Strategic Partnerships and Customer Service
The Department of Strategic Partnerships and Customer Service at Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) offers opportunities for families, schools, and the community to actively participate in student success, leadership, and school improvement.
Family Engagement
Families play a vital role in their children’s education, and MPS is committed to ensuring they have the tools and support needed to be equal partners in promoting student achievement and school improvement. When families and schools collaborate effectively, students thrive and the entire community benefits.
The Family and Community Engagement (FACE) team supports schools and ensures consistency in implementing six standards:
- Schools are welcoming, culturally relevant environments.
- Schools are connected to the community.
- Schools have the tools and knowledge needed to build strong relationships with families and the community.
- Families have the tools and knowledge needed to be active participants in school.
- Families have opportunities to build peer networks.
- Families have avenues to serve as leaders.
Monthly professional development institutes provide parent coordinators with training on high-demand topics to support high-quality service to MPS families, and the FACE team provides ongoing guidance to help strengthen family engagement programs. The team also delivers specialized workshops for families and staff, offers technical assistance to school leaders on effective engagement strategies, and helps maintain transparent, two-way communication with families through ongoing updates about district initiatives.
Advisory Councils
District Advisory Council
Families can stay informed and share ideas about the district’s Title I programs and priorities during monthly council meetings of the District Advisory Council (DAC). Each school sends two delegates to meetings; alternates may attend as well.
Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council
The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) is made up of student representatives from MPS high schools who serve as the collective student voice for their schools and the district. The SSAC gives students meaningful opportunities to engage with the superintendent and other leaders, share feedback, and help improve the high school experience. Guided by elected officers, the council intentionally includes diverse student perspectives to help shape district priorities and strengthen communication.
Alumni Relations
MPS is deeply committed to strengthening alumni connections across the district by fostering a sense of pride, loyalty, and lifelong engagement with our schools. Through intentional relationship-building and ongoing communication, we work to create meaningful opportunities for graduates to stay connected with one another and with the community that helped shape them. We aim to organize and support alumni in ways that celebrate their achievements, encourage their continued involvement, and highlight the important role they play in advancing the mission of our schools. By nurturing these relationships, we're building a vibrant, engaged alumni network that contributes to the ongoing success, growth, and vitality of both our schools and the broader community.
For more information about alumni engagement please reach out to:
Mary Grant, Alumni & Student Engagement Associate
Phone: 414-475-8633
Email: alumni@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Community Partnerships and Volunteer Services
MPS is proud to collaborate with dynamic businesses, organizations, and community members who play a vital role in supporting student achievement, engaging families, and strengthening staff development. The continued dedication of our community partners is essential to helping us achieve our strategic goals. Partnership and volunteer opportunities take many forms, including:
- Adopting a school
- Offering informational workshops and trainings for families
- Providing staff volunteer time
- Supplying financial or in-kind support
- Creating college, career exploration, and internship opportunities for students
- Facilitating professional development for school staff
- Supporting students’ academic growth and learning
- Organizing service projects for corporate volunteers
- Volunteering for extracurricular programs and out-of-school learning experiences
Customer Service
The two MPS Welcome Centers—located at Central Services and South Division High School—serve as a “one-stop shop” where families and community members can access a wide range of services. Welcome Center staff help with online enrollment and registration, Campus Parent Portal account setup and password resets, bilingual testing, transportation questions, parent concerns and disputes, and more. Both centers are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The MPS switchboard at Central Services answers public calls from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and also manages room reservation requests for the building.