Reclaiming the Joy in Schools
As I reflect the successes and challenges of the previous school year and work with my team to plan for the upcoming school year, the concept of reclaiming the joy in schools is a theme that I can't get out of my head. We know all too well that the past several years in public education have been exhausting. Schools have focused on the increasing behavioral and social emotional needs of students. And, while these needs have intensified, adults have experienced their fair share of struggles as well. No one appears exempt. A significant number of employees and community members report feeling overwhelmed, and this dynamic often results in stressed relationships. For simplicity's sake, I am suggesting that too many people have lost their sense of joy in school. One way this has manifested itself is the student attendance crisis across the country. Another is increased absenteeism among school employees nationwide. In Arlington, we see it in our data on student belonging, wh