Teach. Counsel. Repeat

LA Times article: How one California school district tackled chronic absenteeism, suspensions

You’ve probably heard that suspensions are really about connection more times than you can count.

What stays with me is that real change is happening not because of one person alone, but because teams and districts are aligning around the same commitment to support students.

Thanks for being here. When I read articles like this, I find myself thinking less about the numbers and more about the students behind them, and I appreciate you taking a moment to sit with that alongside me.

Something I Keep Noticing

Discipline conversations in schools tend to focus on what students are doing wrong: attendance issues, behavior referrals, and suspensions.

What often gets missed is what may have been missing long before any of that showed up.

Disconnection rarely starts with a suspension. It usually starts quietly. A student not feeling seen. Not knowing where they belong. Believing there isn’t a single adult on campus who really knows them.

That’s why this article stayed with me. Not because it named a new problem, but because it centered belonging as part of the solution, not an afterthought.

What the Article Helped Me Reflect On

The article highlights how districts are using data to guide early interventions and reduce suspensions, with a strong focus on connection and proactive support. I really admire Alma Lopez and the counseling teams involved. Their work reflects what school counselors have known for a long time: outcomes change when relationships come first.

One detail that stayed with me was that counselors meet with every student and their family in fourth and seventh grade to talk through academic and personal challenges. They don’t wait for high school. They don’t wait for crisis.

That timing matters.

Why Belonging Matters More Than We Admit

When I was in graduate school earning my master’s in school counseling, I wrote a research paper on student belonging. The research was clear then: if a student feels they belong, especially if they trust even one adult on campus, it can change everything.

Belonging affects attendance, behavior, confidence, and a student’s willingness to ask for help. It’s not a “nice extra.” It’s foundational.

I saw this play out through programs like the Corona-Norco mentorship groups, including the All Star Groups led by counselors. Students didn’t just improve behaviorally, they showed up differently. They felt connected to their campus.

What I Saw as a High School Counselor

I met with every student at least twice a year for schedule planning. On the surface, those meetings were logistical but I used them as connection points.

I asked every student three questions:

• Are you a first-generation student?
• What are your goals after high school?
• What’s been going well for you today or this week?

That last question mattered more than it seemed. It gave students space to be seen as people, not just schedules or transcripts.

Reading this article reminded me how powerful those early, consistent touchpoints are especially when they happen before students struggle.

What Feels True Here

The biggest takeaway for me is simple: early intervention works best when it’s relational, not reactive.

That looks like:

• Connecting with students before high school
• Using data to guide support, not punishment
• Building systems where every student is known
• Normalizing check-ins, not reserving them for “problems”

When students know someone will notice them early, they’re far less likely to fall through the cracks later.

Belonging doesn’t require a massive program to begin. Sometimes it starts with one consistent adult, one intentional question, one moment of being known.

The data matters. But the relationships behind the data matter more. When schools invest in connection early, they don’t just reduce suspensions, they change how students experience school.

I share reflections like this as I continue learning from both research and real work with students and schools. If this perspective resonated, you’re welcome to subscribe and read along.