New communication platform helps educators connect with East Hartford parents

EAST HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - As students in East Hartford began the new school year, educators utilized a new tool to better communicate with parents and guardians.

All that’s needed is a phone or computer for the ParentSquare app.

East Hartford parents have all been automatically enrolled in a new district wide communication platform. So if something happens in a classroom, they will know within minutes, maybe even seconds.

East Hartford school district communication specialist Laura Roberts said the new messaging platform will help educators reach district families with speed and precision.

“We know that parents have a phone in their pocket and this way they can have all of this information almost in a news feed like social media,” Roberts said.

“The danger of communication is the illusion that its been done. ‘Oh, I told them! Oh, I let them know!’ But if no one knows what’s going on, you haven’t communicated,” said Superintendent Nathan Quesnel.

Quesnel said ParentSquare will solve that problem by allowing educators to email, call, text, and send app alerts to district families in more than 50 languages. He said parents have never been more connected.

“It’s this really interactive way for our parents teachers and administrators in our district to communicate with families and allow families to communicate back and really organize all the information that’s so complicated for families,” he said.

“I get notified right away,” said Ruben Pardo, a parent in East Hartford. “I know what’s going on. I can communicate with the teacher back and forth, so it’s really nice.”

The superintendent also said that he is thrilled that there are fewer COVID restrictions this year.

“This allows our focus to be on more traditional things, these relationships that are happening, this human contact that’s happening,” Quesnel said.

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