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00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 Welcome to Your Morning Boost, your daily leadership advice to help you lead your school community.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:09 Brought to you by AWB Education and sponsored by Grundmeyer Leader Services,
00:00:10 --> 00:00:14 where together we are transforming education, one leader at a time.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 Now here's your host, Adam Bush.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 Good morning, school leaders. Welcome to Your Morning Boost.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 Today, we're going to turn our attention to a profoundly important and often
00:00:24 --> 00:00:28 challenging task, and that is re-engaging students who have either dropped out
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 or are no longer consistently attending school.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 This isn't just about getting bodies back in seats.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 It's about reconnecting with young people who may feel disconnected,
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 disengaged, or disheartened.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:44 We'll explore some empathetic and strategic approaches to bring these students
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 back into the fold and support their continued learning journey.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:53 Hi, I'm Dr. Lisa Hill, a longtime educator of nearly 40 years.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 As a teacher, counselor, professor, and vice principal, and I've seen just about
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 everything public schools can throw at you.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:05 And now I'm sharing my tales on my comedy podcast, Vice Principal Unofficed.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:09 It's where school leadership meets laugh-out-loud stories from underwear-required
00:01:09 --> 00:01:15 parent-teacher conferences, yes, really, to staff lounge confessions and more, you won't believe.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 I'm telling it all with humor and a whole lot of heart.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:23 I also tackle the serious stuff too, like what schools really need to change
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 and those behind-the-scenes moments no one talks about.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 So if you're ready to laugh, learn, and maybe even cry a little,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:34 but mostly laugh, join me and my 90-year-old mom, my unofficial co-host,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 on Vice Principal Unofficed.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:42 New episodes drop bi-weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast picks.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 Trust me, this is one detention you'll actually look forward to.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:51 So let's explore how to effectively re-engage students who have dropped out
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 or who are no longer coming to school.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 Right out of the gates, we need to understand that each student's situation
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 is unique and it requires a tailored approach.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:04 So the first crucial step is to establish a system for identifying and tracking
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 these students proactively.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 Don't wait for them to disappear completely.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:14 Set up alerts, protocols, other ways that we can keep track of consistent absenteeism.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 Once identified, initiate compassionate and persistent outreach.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 This goes beyond a simple phone call or certainly an email.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 Consider home visits, outreach from school counselors or social workers,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:30 or even former teachers from whom the student had a strong relationship with.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:35 The goal is to understand the underlying reasons for their disengagement.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:39 This could range from family responsibilities, mental health challenges,
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 financial pressures, or even just a sense of not belonging at school.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 As research from the National Dropout Prevention Center highlights,
00:02:47 --> 00:02:52 disengagement is often a complex issue with multiple contributing factors.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 Furthermore, offer some flexible and individualized learning pathways that cater
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 to their specific needs and circumstances.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 Traditional school schedules and curricula may not work for every returning
00:03:02 --> 00:03:06 student. This might include evening classes, online learning options.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:11 Credit recovery programs, or even vocational training, or maybe even a blend
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 of school and work experiences.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:17 The aim here is to make education accessible and relevant to their current lives.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:22 For instance, imagine a student who left school to work and support their family.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:26 Instead of insisting that they return to a full-time traditional schedule,
00:03:26 --> 00:03:30 offer a blended learning program where they can complete coursework online while
00:03:30 --> 00:03:35 continuing their employment. with in-person support available at flexible times.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:41 Another vital strategy is to assign a dedicated mentor or advocate to each returning student.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:46 This could be a teacher, counselor, community liaison, or even an older peer
00:03:46 --> 00:03:50 who can provide consistent support, guidance, and encouragement and help them
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 navigate academic challenges and reconnect with the school community.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 Lastly, here address any non-academic barriers that may be preventing the return.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:02 This could involve connecting families with community resources for food,
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 housing, mental health services, or even transportation.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 I know of a local principal here who recently shared a story with me about a
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 student who had dropped out just due to severe anxiety.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:16 The school connected the family with a therapist and they created a gradual
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 re-entry plan for the students, starting with some part-time attendance,
00:04:19 --> 00:04:24 some one-on-one support, and eventually this led to their full re-engagement.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 And finally, to graduation.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:34 So to recap, re-engaging students who have dropped out or disengaged,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:39 this requires proactive identification, compassionate and persistent outreach
00:04:39 --> 00:04:44 to understand their unique circumstances, offering flexible and individualized learning pathways,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:49 assigning dedicated mentors, and addressing any non-academic barriers.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:54 It's a testament to our commitment as educators to every student's potential,
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 even when the path is challenging.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 Every student deserves another chance to succeed.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 Thanks for listening. Hope you have a wonderful Thursday. Hope you've enjoyed
00:05:03 --> 00:05:07 this week's episodes, and we will talk with you again tomorrow.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:11 You have been listening to Your Morning Boost by AWB Education in partnership
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 with Grundmeyer Leader Services.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:18 You can find out more about our services by clicking on the links in the description.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:23 Remember, you are doing this vital job that only a few can do.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:27 So until next time, thank you for your service to your community.