One year my granddaughter had an unusually special teacher. Mr. M was kind, structured, positive, and a knew how to ignite a child’s imagination in the classroom. Every day he would write a thought-provoking question or a quote on the board for students to explore throughout the day. As challenges arose, he would help students brainstorm and persevere until they found solutions. In his classroom, every voice mattered; he recognized every child’s unique contribution, talked about their strengths, and challenged them to not to settle. The last day of school he even met with students one by one to encourage their career aspirations and tell them what special genius they brought to the classroom.
Blog
Why everyone is talking about student attendance and what to do about it.
According to the Arizona Department of Education, students who were chronically absent in 2019 made up only about 14% of K-8 classrooms. While these numbers improved slightly in 2023, they are still hovering around 28% – double pre-pandemic rates. For children who are more vulnerable due to economic or minority status, chronic absenteeism jumps to even higher numbers, around 35%.
Why is this such a big deal? Can missing 2 days of school a month, or 18 days a year, actually make that big of a difference?
How to Take Advantage of the Best Thing about Summertime: TIME
6 Tips for Using Summer “Time” to Reach Your Goals
If you feel like time has been slipping through your fingers, you aren’t alone! While summertime boasts incredible opportunities, we find that summer planning is what truly helps us take advantage of the change of pace. Here are 6 ways to value your time, reach your goals, and make memories worth sharing!
A Vision of Hope & Change
There are moments in life when we are privileged to meet someone whose leadership is culture shaping and whose vision is bringing hope and change – rippling out to increasing levels of impact for us today, and for generations to come. For me, Quincy Natay is one of those rare leaders who makes me feel like I am watching the future find wings and take flight.
The People Who Make The Difference
Today there are multitudes of children from all kinds of backgrounds who need the same investment that I received as a child. I see their faces and I realize how much value they have and how much potential they hold. These kids need consistent, trustworthy adults who will pay attention to their unique strengths and struggles. Student centered learning is more than tailoring our academic approach to the individual needs of children. It is also walking alongside their families to help them grow in resilience, providing the resources needed to overcome learning disabilities, or the support of mental health professionals when they struggle with anxiety or depression. Our schools are places where the whole community can come together to provide resources for our kids and families. This is not a platitude. It is often the very thing that makes the difference. I was the recipient of powerful community support connected through my local school. As an adult, I have watched it change the trajectory of so many lives. It is the thing that gets me up in the morning and it is what gives me vision for the future.
Why does Love Our Schools Day matter?
Sometimes people ask me what is so important about Love Our Schools Day. Can one day on a school campus, really make a difference? Of course, this question is understandable, and yet, the answer still echoes with resounding power. YES! While we are completing simple projects, it is often what happens beneath the surface that makes the biggest impact. Have you ever had a friend or family member come alongside you and help you clean out a room before a surgery or before welcoming a new baby? Has someone helped you install a playground, plant a tree, fix your car? What difference did it make? How did it change not just the practical options you had available, but the way you experienced your world? What did it mean to you to not be alone in that moment?