Family & community
engagement
Using stakeholder perspectives and survey research to help schools listen, identify gaps, and build meaningful partnerships with families.
Explore the researchLEADERSHIP WITH PURPOSE
Stronger schools.
Meaningful partnerships.
Lasting possibilities.
I’m Dr. Clifton Hackman, a former college professor, educator, and researcher connecting the everyday work of school leadership with the relationships and evidence that help students thrive.
BASED IN INDIANA · COMMITTED TO EDUCATION
THE PRACTITIONER–SCHOLAR
Connecting research
to what schools need.
RELATIONSHIPS. RESEARCH. PRACTICE.
01 / ABOUT
A practitioner’s perspective.
A researcher’s curiosity.
My work begins with a simple question: how can schools better understand and support the people they serve?
I serve as Assistant Principal at Tipton Middle School and Director of Special Needs for Tipton Community School Corporation. My experience brings together school administration, counseling, special education, school safety, and higher education teaching.
I earned my Doctor of Education in Leadership for Organizations from the University of Dayton in 2024. My research examines how families and educators understand meaningful involvement—and how listening to both can guide school improvement.
As an expert in educational leadership, family–school partnerships, and student support, I connect research with practical strategies that strengthen schools and help learners thrive.
Start a conversationEd.D., University of DaytonLeadership for Organizations · 2024
School & district leadershipTipton Community School Corporation
Certified CPI InstructorNonviolent Crisis Intervention®, 3rd Edition
CPI Classroom Culture, 2nd Edition
Instructor Certification Program · Live virtual training scheduled for November 16, 2026.
02 / MY WORK
Better systems.
Stronger connections.
Work that brings people, evidence, and practical tools together in service of students.
Family & community
School leadership &
student services
Connecting instructional leadership, special education, behavioral supports, and family communication to the daily work of supporting students.
Professional backgroundPractical tools for
educators
Developing the Compass projects to organize school workflows, support documentation, and make student services resources easier for staff to use.
About the Compass projects
The developing suite brings together tools for special education, RTI, administration, safety, and front desk workflows. Each project responds to a practical need in school operations.
03 / RESEARCH & DISSERTATION
UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON · 2024
Parents, Perceptions
and Partnerships
How Parents and Teachers View Successful Methods of Parental Involvement
My dissertation explores where parent and teacher perspectives align—and where they differ—across Epstein’s six types of family involvement. It asks how those perspectives can inform more responsive school practices.
View the OhioLINK academic recordDISSERTATION IN PRACTICE2024
Parents,
Perceptions
and Partnerships
How Parents and Teachers View Successful
Methods of Parental Involvement
Research overview
This comparative study examines parents’ and teachers’ views of effective involvement using Epstein’s framework: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with the community.
The research combines quantitative measures of perceptions with contextual insights to understand both shared expectations and differences. Its practical focus is helping school leaders use evidence about families’ experiences to guide engagement planning.
Cite this dissertation
Hackman, C. J. (2024). Parents, perceptions and partnerships: How parents and teachers view successful methods of parental involvement [Doctoral dissertation, University of Dayton]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. https://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton172173471712212
Download citation04 / PRESENTATIONS
Ideas to share.
Tools to put to work.
Conference sessions, professional learning, and research presentations designed to give educators ideas they can use.
CONFERENCE / HIGH-ABILITY EDUCATION
Helping students
thrive.
Helping High Ability Students Thrive
The Skills You Don’t See
Practical approaches to teaching the self-regulation, collaboration, help-seeking, and time-management skills students need beyond academics. A session for school counselors on supporting high-ability learners.
November 12, 2026 · 1:30–2:30 p.m. Eastern · Plainfield, IndianaIndiana School Counselor Association · Embassy Suites by Hilton at Plainfield Indianapolis Airport
CONFERENCE / FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
Partnership
to Practice.
From Partnership to Practice
A Roadmap for Transforming Family Engagement in Indiana Schools
A practical approach to understanding family perspectives, strengthening communication, and turning survey findings into school-specific action. Presented at the IASP Assistant Principals and Fall Professionals conferences.
PDF · Presentation overviewRESEARCH / DOCTORAL RESEARCH
Parents. Perceptions.
Partnerships.
Parents, Perceptions and Partnerships
The research design behind the dissertation
An overview of the problem of practice, research questions, Epstein’s framework, and the survey methods that shaped the doctoral study.
PowerPoint · Research design presentationSELECTED SPEAKING & PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Conference
Helping High Ability Students Thrive: The Skills You Don’t See
Indiana School Counselor Association Conference
Scheduled breakout session · Plainfield, Indiana
Conference
From Partnership to Practice
IASP Fall Professionals Conference
A Roadmap for Transforming Family Engagement in Indiana Schools
Conference
From Partnership to Practice
IASP Assistant Principals Conference
A Roadmap for Transforming Family Engagement in Indiana Schools
Professional learning
Family Engagement: Survey Findings & Next Steps
Tipton Community School Corporation
Staff presentation connecting family-engagement findings with the next phase of survey research.
Professional learning
Exploring Parental Involvement
Tipton Middle School Faculty Professional Development
Faculty learning and discussion of effective parental involvement, supported by teacher survey perspectives.
Bring the conversation to your school. Connect about family engagement research, professional learning, or a presentation for your team.
Speaking inquiriesEXPERIENCE & EDUCATION
Grounded in
the work of schools.
From counseling and building leadership to district services and educator preparation.
2025–PRESENT
Director of Special Needs
Tipton Community School Corporation
2023–PRESENT
Assistant Principal
Tipton Middle School
2011–2021 · HAMILTON HEIGHTS
School Safety Director / Assistant Principal
Hamilton Heights School Corporation · Hamilton Heights Primary School
Assistant Principal, 2011–2021 · District school safety leadership, 2017–2020
2015–2020 · HIGHER EDUCATION
Adjunct Professor, Division of Education
Indiana University Kokomo
Psychology of Teaching · Assessments in Schools
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
IAG Board Member
Indiana Association for the Gifted
Advocacy and leadership in high-ability education
EDUCATION
Doctor of Education · 2024
University of Dayton · Leadership for Organizations
M.Ed., School Administration & Supervision · 2013
M.Ed., School Counseling · 2009
B.S., Psychology · 2007
Indiana State University
LET’S CONNECT
Good work begins
with a conversation.
For speaking, research collaboration, or conversations about strengthening schools and family partnerships.