Stacey Vanhoy’s motto is #RelationshipsMatter. She began her career in education in 2003 as a co-founder of REAL Schools Initiative (now OUT Teach), a non-profit born in Fort Worth, TX that created outdoor learning environments in under-served and under-resourced elementary schools. She also spent two years as the Facilitator of Outdoor Education at a Montessori charter school, before receiving her teaching certificate and teaching 7th and 8th grade science in Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas.

Her time in Austin during the 2013 Texas legislative session ignited a spark that moved her out of the classroom. She joined Stand for Children with the goal of providing educators with a voice.  Forty educators, during a year-long fellowship, were asked what the number one thing that would have the greatest impact on the lives of their students right then, and they all said, “a better way to communicate and partner with families.”

When it comes to optional tasks, busy educators quickly abandon things that are ineffective. HVP has grown primarily through word-of-mouth between educators eager to share a practice that has positively impacted their understanding of students and their families, and their ability to meet student’s needs.  HVP began as a small pilot of 46 educators in Dallas ISD conducting 328 home visits to over 4,000 educators in school districts across multiple states conducting over 29,000 relationship-building home visits in just eight years. 

Data from HVP’s work shows improvement in student attendance, behavior, excitement to learn, academic achievement, and an overall sense of belonging.  Seeing these results, Stacey reflected on her time in the classroom, she experienced and witnessed teachers who took time to build relationships with students and families enjoying their jobs more and having more positive results with students.  Upon reflection, she remembered a few teachers along the way who took the time to get to know her and how that influenced how she showed up in the classroom and her willingness and eagerness to learn. 

Stacey is passionate about training and supporting educators to work with families as partners because she firmly believes that authentic, trusting relationships between educators, students, and families is the foundation upon which every other academic program must rest.  #RelationshipsMatter.