Students Show Up Where They Matter

Practical measures for uncovering an overlooked and often hidden driver of declining student engagement and attendancE

There are moments in teaching that divide everything into before and after. For Angela, it began with a knock at the front door. When the door opened, Jonathan stood proudly in his military uniform, preparing for his first deployment.

Years earlier, Jonathan had been a student in Maiers’ 1st-grade classroom, the youngest of five children in a family experiencing domestic violence and homelessness. He was energetic yet often acted out and was frequently absent.

Each week, Angela wrote her students short notes — not about their behavior or performance but to convey the good she saw in them. One Friday, she handed Jonathan a note that read: “I see you. You are meant to do something important.”

Twelve years later, standing on her doorstep, Jonathan reached into his pocket and unfolded a worn piece of paper. It was that note. He’d carried it for years because it reminded him of the first time someone believed in him. That note, he said, made him want to come to school, participate and do something important with his life.