Unified by Pride: Cultivating Community at Ferndale Schools

Unified by Pride: Cultivating Community at Ferndale Schools

(Ferndale Schools Superintendent Camille Hibbler, April 2, 2026)

Ferndale, MI –  Walk through any of our hallways, and you’ll feel an energy that goes far beyond textbooks and lesson plans. It’s the sound of a student finding their voice, the pride of a teacher witnessing a breakthrough and the steady pulse of a community that shows up for one another.

To Cultivate Collective Pride, the C in our REACH strategic plan, we are leaning into that energy to ensure our district is a place where every family truly belongs.

There is a unique power in owning our story. We are focusing on strengthening the “One Ferndale” spirit that flourishes within the specific, vibrant identities of every school building. By highlighting our successes through the diverse voices of those who live them every day, we show the world exactly what makes our schools so special.

At Ferndale Public Schools, we’re moving beyond traditional communication to ensure every family feels seen, heard and valued. To guide this journey, we have set intentional, heart-led goals:

● Deepening Family Engagement: Our primary focus is ensuring that all families have a seat at the table. We are specifically striving to increase the participation of our underrepresented family groups by 20% by August 2026.

● Purposeful Communication: We are establishing a transparent, multi-channel strategy that keeps you connected to key information while highlighting the individual identities of our schools.

● Strategic Partnerships: We are developing and evaluating community alliances that actively support our system-wide priorities and building-level goals.

You may have already noticed this mission in action! From our Black History Month spotlights to the Ferndale 5 video series, we are prioritizing content that represents the real people of Ferndale Public Schools.

We are also relentlessly focused on transparency. Through increased video content and streamlined messaging, we are working to meet you where you are. Building a culture of pride requires the active participation of our community. When we celebrate our wins together and engage with one another through authentic partnership, we ensure that every student feels the support of an entire community behind them. By investing in these relationships and staying focused on our goal of inclusive engagement, we are making Ferndale a place where everyone is proud to belong.

Our community is our strength. And the future is Ferndale!

Camille Hibbler is superintendent of Ferndale Public Schools.  Learn more about Ferndale Schools at https://www.ferndaleschools.org/