Episode 106: Addressing Absenteeism Post Pandemic: Tools for Schools and Families

Host: Coach Jeffery (he/him)Guest: Dr. Kara Stern

Episode Summary

In this powerful episode, Coach Jeffery sits down with Dr. Kara Stern to tackle the pressing issue of chronic absenteeism in schools—an urgent topic in a post-pandemic world. Dr. Stern, with her extensive background as a teacher, principal, and education nonprofit leader, now works in ed tech helping schools re-engage students and boost attendance.

The conversation dives into the staggering scale of absenteeism nationwide (with Houston, TX alone missing 230,000 students), and explores not only the stakes for student outcomes but also the actionable steps schools can take to create a sense of belonging and connection.

Dr. Stern introduces SchoolStatus, an integrated suite of tools designed to improve attendance, enhance communication—especially across language barriers—and help educators and school leaders support students before attendance issues escalate. She emphasizes the human side of this work, arguing that genuine relationships and culturally responsive systems can make a lasting difference.

Key Topics Covered

* The current landscape of chronic absenteeism post-pandemic

* Root causes: from family/language barriers to larger systemic challenges

* The consequences of absenteeism for student futures

* How belonging, communication, and engagement drive attendance

* How SchoolStatus helps schools:

* Multilingual family engagement tools

* Attendance management systems to detect early warning signs

* Streamlined workflows for positive home-school partnerships

* Teacher growth and support resources

* The limitations of tech—why caring, human relationships are essential

* Real success stories from California, Texas, New York, and beyond

* Special considerations for historically marginalized communities

Featured Quotes

* "When we talk about fixing absenteeism, we're really talking about saving kids' lives." — Dr. Kara Stern

* "The chronic absenteeism is kids voting with their feet." — Dr. Kara Stern

* "For students to come to school, they need to feel as if they belong there." — Dr. Kara Stern

Resources & Links

* Learn More: schoolstatus.com

* Connect with SchoolStatus:

* LinkedIn

* Facebook

Connect with the Host

* Coach Jeffery: Flipboard EDU Podcast

Thank you for tuning in! If you’re an administrator or educator looking to tackle chronic absenteeism with real, human-centered tech solutions, check out SchoolStatus. Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations that matter in education.

Link to a source discussing the report:

* Houston Chronicle: Report: Nearly 230K students were chronically absent in Harris County last school year