School Attendance Matters: Susan Flores and Donna Puhalovich Share How Engaging Families and Communities Helps Children Reach Success

In this episode of Connecting Communities, host Leah Verier-Dunn is joined by Donna Puhalovich from the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (SCGLR) and Susan Flores, Coordinator of Social Work and Mental Health Services with Charlotte County Public Schools, to talk about one of SCGLR’s core pillars, attendance!Together, they discuss two different initiatives: the Attendance Awareness Poster Contest and Motivating Improved Attendance. Each guest shares their insight on the impact of these initiatives and how both have strengthened efforts to improve attendance across the Suncoast region. Timestamps00:47 - Introduction to Donna Puhalovich01:07 - What is the Attendance Awareness Poster Contest?02:05 - Why attendance is a big deal07:27 - What students do after receiving a poster template15:06 - How schools can participate in the Attendance Awareness Poster Contest15:58 - Donna’s final thoughts: Consistent attendance creates a strong student.19:19 - Introduction to Susan Flores - How social work relates to attendance20:26 - How the pandemic shifted concerns about attendance and in-person learning21:09 - Chronic absenteeism. What is it and why is it a big deal?28:43 - Criteria and purpose of Motivating Improved Attendance (MIA) Program33:00 - Successful community messaging: the March Madness competition of attendance40:20 - Susan’s final thoughts: Attendance is primary and foundationalLinks to Learn More Donna PuhalovichSusan FloresSuncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading | Attendance Attendance Awareness Poster ContestMotivating Improved AttendanceConnect Beyond The BlogDonna PuhalovichSusan FloresWant to hear more? Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or visit us Beyond The Blog!Join The Journey