Schools, Teachers and Families Can Now Communicate Without Language Barriers

AUSTIN, TX, August 18, 2013 – Livingtree today announced the continued evolution of its digital platform enabling deeper parent engagement via a new translation feature. Parents, schools, teachers and organizations can now easily communicate in language of parent preference. Over 41 languages are now available on the LivingTree translation system.

“Since our launch 8 weeks ago, over 400 schools have signed up to our platform and committed to parent involvement. We want to ensure there is equal opportunity for parents to have a seat at the window into the classroom and school.” said Cullen Childress, Co-Founder and CEO of LivingTree. “From experience and feedback, we know that children often play the role of translator between teachers and their parents. LivingTree is working to remove that burden with our new translation capability, and enable more robust parent, teacher and school collaboration and coordination in parents’ native language.”

Five decades of research confirms that involvement of families in education improves schools, academic outcomes, and graduation rates. To help deepen parent engagement, LivingTree has launched a cutting-edge web and mobile-based communication platform that provides schools, teachers and parents with a private and efficient means for sharing important information, rich media, documents,  private direct messaging, shared calendars, and integrated volunteer sign-ups. The LivingTree service is available at learn.livingtree.com and supports mobile access to all functions through intuitive iPhone and Android applications.

Some of the benefits of LivingTree include:

–Improves communication:  School administrators, teachers and parents can conduct two-way conversations, post information/media, comment, and share documents in one private and safe place.

–Encourages engagement:  Provides complete transparency into the classroom through a unique combination of collaboration and media sharing capabilities – facilitating greater parental awareness and partnering in the education process.

–Enhances coordination:  Parents’ calendars can be updated at the school or class level.  Volunteer and sign-up needs (carnivals, parent/teacher conferences, field trips, etc) can be easily coordinated – straight from the web, iPhone, or Android applications.

“Using the LivingTree platform, our school was able to build a much tighter community and meaningful engagement with our families. It has truly changed our level of transparency with parents and how we converse, share, and coordinate in the context of educating our children,” said Eden A. Jones, Principal at Briargrove Elementary in Houston, TX.

“We have over 27 languages spoken by parents at our school. LivingTree already helps us connect better but this feature is going to mean even deeper collaboration by all parents,” said Lilian Rodriguez, parent at Briargrove Elementary.

Schools administrators can learn more at www.livingtree.com/schools.

Teachers can learn more at livingtree.com/products/teacher/.