This qualitative, phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of parents with children in public schools in Northern Colorado, addressing a gap in the understanding of parent-school partnerships within the educational context. The problem was parents must navigate complex public school systems in Northern Colorado. This issue underscored the need for research into these experiences to inform parent engagement strategies with their children's schools. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research was to understand better the lived experiences of parents in Northern Colorado with students in the public school system as they have navigated school systems and partnered with schools their children attend. The research fills a gap in the literature, which has overlooked the challenges faced by parents in Northern Colorado's public schools. Grounded in the theoretical framework of hermeneutics and transformational leadership, the study aimed to interpret parents' experiences and apply them to improve school-family partnerships. Two key research questions guided this inquiry: exploring the nature of parents' experiences and their methods of navigating the public school system. The study focused on a sample of parents in Northern Colorado, using semi-structured interviews to gather data. Fifteen participants were selected based on their relevance to the research criteria, ensuring a diverse representation. Data collection and analysis procedures involved interviews, and the data were analyzed using a structured, five-phase approach to identify key themes and patterns. Key findings include the preference parents have for personalized and proactive communication from schools. Recommendations were made on how school leaders can incorporate this research. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]