Anthony H. Brown Recognized Nationally as Finalist for the Dr. Steven M. Constantino Family Engagement Practitioner Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

​CLEVELAND, OH — November 2025 — Award-winning educator and author Anthony H. Brown, M.Ed. has been named one of the Top 9 Finalists nationwide for the prestigious Dr. Steven M. Constantino Family Engagement Practitioner Award, presented at the National Family Engagement Summit in Richmond, Virginia.

This national recognition honors leaders who demonstrate exceptional innovation, inclusion, and impact in building authentic partnerships between schools, families, and communities. During the Summit’s recognition ceremony, finalists were celebrated as practitioners who are “not just nominated but needed” — those whose work “isn’t just noticed, but changing lives.”

Representing his hometown and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Brown was recognized for his deep commitment to building equitable, culturally responsive engagement practices that empower families and strengthen student outcomes. As one speaker declared, “Family engagement isn’t a program. It’s how we survive and thrive together.”

A respected educator, cultural strategist, and community builder, Brown is a nine-time honoree in the Who’s Who in Black Cleveland and an award-winning author of Inspire Me Moments: Living Out Loud with No Regrets. Through his leadership with CMSD FACE (Family and Community Engagement), Parent University, and Fathers Matter, Brown has advanced a mission to make every family feel seen, valued, and supported — a vision grounded in research highlighted by Dr. Constantino’s Engaging Every Family Playbook, which states, “Family engagement isn’t a luxury — it’s one of the most effective levers for improving student outcomes.”

At the Summit, Brown facilitated two sessions of his featured presentation, Family Matters: Inspired Conversations to Strengthen School, Home, and Community Connections, guiding education leaders to move engagement from transactional to transformational through authentic dialogue, data, and cultural responsiveness. He also hosted a special HBCU Family Engagement Trivia Game Night, blending college readiness, culture, and community celebration through interactive learning.

“This experience was powerful,” Brown shared. “Hearing the words ‘one family’ echo through that ballroom reminded me why this work matters. Family engagement is not just a strategy — it’s a lifeline. When families, educators, and communities stand together, we make learning personal, purposeful, and lasting.”

The Dr. Steven M. Constantino Family Engagement Practitioner Award honors the legacy of Dr. Constantino, a national expert and author whose Five Simple Principles to Engage Every Family framework continues to shape engagement practices nationwide. Brown had the opportunity to meet Dr. Steve and Dr. Peggie Constantino during the Summit — an experience he described as “inspiring and affirming.”

The award selection process will continue through interviews and review before the grand prize recipient is announced at the National Family Engagement Symposium Gala in April 2026, where the honoree will receive an all-expense-paid trip and a $10,000 award.

For more information about the National Family Engagement Summit, visit www.nfesummit.com.
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About Anthony H. Brown, M.Ed.
Anthony H. Brown is an award-winning educator, author, and community engagement leader based in Cleveland, Ohio. As Program Manager for Family and Community Engagement with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, he has led initiatives that amplify family voice, empower fathers, and strengthen partnerships between schools and communities. Through his book Inspire Me Moments: Living Out Loud with No Regrets, Brown continues to inspire individuals and organizations to build connection, purpose, and legacy.