When I took the helm as principal of Nathanael Greene Middle School in April 2023, one in every two students was chronically absent. This school boasted a celebrated history, but at the time, it ranked in the bottom 1% of the state – a one-star school.  It was identified for comprehensive support and school improvement.  […]

In our building, we have a commitment to honoring the experiences of all our students and families. We have students from all over the world with rich and diverse histories and cultures, and we want each and every child and the adults in their lives to feel like they belong. What’s more is that we […]

I grew up in a bilingual program here in Buffalo, New York, and now it’s my privilege to support students and educators in bilingual programs as an instructional coach. Much of my work with educators focuses on dual language instruction and amplifying students’ home language – Spanish, in the case of our community. This year, […]

Leaders like you know how tough chronic student absenteeism is to tackle. Data shows that each chronically absent or at-risk student and family will benefit from individualized support at school. But to make a difference for all your students, you and your team need consistent, scalable processes. That’s why we’ve rounded up 5 data-driven tools […]

Here’s a situation your fellow leaders have shared: You’re welcoming new English language learners and immigrant students into your building, and your team has questions about how to support their success.  Longtime ESL educator and district facilitator Valentina Gonzalez knows this challenge well, too. Here’s the No. 1 strategy she recommends to school leaders like […]

When children first walk through our school doors for pre-K or kindergarten, they bring a natural desire to learn and an effortless joy for school. They’re inquisitive and eager to engage. However, as a teacher and now as a leader, I’ve seen how students’ connection to school can sometimes gradually dissipate over the years.  That’s […]

As we rebuilt after COVID, these 4 priorities shaped our family engagement program.

What can partnering with families really look like? How can those partnerships support our campuses and communities?

We want new families to feel seen and accepted before their students’ first day

To encourage family participation and engagement, we must center community in all we do.