Unmissable Conversations at ACSA

At EveryDay Labs we pride ourselves in supporting districts across the nation to reduce chronic absenteeism rates and improve student outcomes. Last month we attended the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Annual Leadership Conference in San Francisco where we had the opportunity to speak with California administrators about leadership, equity, and why attendance matters. 

We decided to start the conversations on a more personal level by asking attendees to share a special day from grade school that they considered to be ‘unmissable’. We all have a memory that sticks with us through adulthood and makes us smile when we think of how excited we were to go to school. It could have been a spirit day that came once a year, or the day of the week you took your favorite class. Whatever the day and whatever the reason, these ‘unmissable’ days show us how impactful attendance is on a child’s development and how they shape the experiences we have in school and in life.

“Everyday was unmissable for me. My mom made us go to school rain or shine, sick or healthy— that was the rule, no exceptions.”

• Dwight Bonds, Executive Director The California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators 

“My #unmissableday was always the day we had band in elementary.”

• Rauna Fox, Assistant Superintendent, El Centro ESD
  
  

“My unmissable day was the 3rd grade flower show in Miss Wygand's class.”

• Liz Ralston, California Director of District Partnerships, EveryDay Labs

These conversations did more than just take us down memory lane, it reminded us of how important and personal attendance is for all students. We loved what we were hearing at the conference so much that we decided this should be the start of a larger conversation we want to have with district leaders nationwide and we’d like YOU to be a part of it. We’re starting on social media and we’ll be asking educators in person at events throughout 2022. 

Join the conversation

 Share your #unmissable day on Twitter, include the hashtag #unmissableday and tag @EveryDayLabs. Every 3 months we’ll randomly select one participant to win a free Attendance Workshop for your district. Please encourage your colleagues and staff to participate and there is no limit to the number of times you can share as long as each answer is unique. We can’t wait to hear from you!