Episode Details

Today we're thrilled to bring you a timely episode from Resilient Schools. Host Ross Romano talks with Jen Perry, Senior Manager of Learning Design and Whole Learner at Edmentum.

Jen helps us identify the types and indicators of trauma present in many school districts, the causes of chronic absenteeism as well as the ongoing trends, the risk factors for disengagement, how to integrate educator and student engagement, and more.

Hear about:

• “Resilient Schools” means adaptive
• Key indicators of trauma within a school community
• How educator engagement and burnout relate to student engagement
• The call to bring students back from disengagement
• Measuring connectedness
• Lessons on chronic absenteeism from Rochester, NY
• Why chronic absenteeism hasn’t automatically fixed itself post-pandemic
• How the Whole Learner framework aligns with efforts to combat chronic absenteeism
• Career-connected learning and making school relevant
• Read Jen’s District Administration article, Connectedness is key: 3 ways to reverse chronic absenteeism
• Learn more about Edmentum: https://www.edmentum.com

About the guest

Jen Perry is Senior Manager of Learning Design and Whole Learner at Edmentum. Jen has worked over 30+ years with youth in educational and community settings. As a teacher, administrator, and trainer, her passion has been to help educators develop an understanding of the importance of social-emotional learning and build trauma-informed responses and systems. This work has included supporting youth, administrators, and schools in understanding behavior and implementing transformational change through strength-based approaches. Connect on LinkedIn

About the host

Ross Romano is co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. He has spent over a decade helping dozens of founders, C-level executives, and authors develop and distribute compelling thought leadership through a variety of media channels. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano or LinkedIn

Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks and IXL:

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation