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Dr. Kara Stern

Dr. Kara Stern is Director of Education at SchoolStatus, where she works with districts nationwide on attendance and family engagement strategies. A former high school teacher, middle school principal, and head of school, she holds a doctorate in Teaching and Learning from NYU.

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From the Author:

Absenteeism Is Predictable. We Must Learn to Read the Patterns.

Absenteeism is predictable. The signs are there. You just need to know how to read them.

When Parents Trust Schools, Student Attendance Improves

I recently helped analyze survey data from over 1,000 K–12 families about what they want from schools, and this insight stopped me cold: parents are asking for more communication than we’re giving them, especially when it comes to attendance.

What Do We Already Know About Our High Schoolers?

The recent cancellation of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for 17-year-olds has sparked legitimate concerns about lost data.

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Education News

Supporting Teachers with Tiny Pep Talks

Teaching is meaningful, important, and filled with joys both big and small. But also, let’s face it, there are days where you could use an extra pep talk (or twenty).

Why We Need to Start Recognizing the Strengths of Sensitive Children

I was a boy in Texas in the 1980s. At that time, young men were expected to grow into cowboys or firefighters or G.I. Joes.

Sustainable Professional Wear for Teachers

Teachers make hundreds of decisions every day. Yet one of the earliest decisions happens quietly at home each morning: What am I going to wear today?

Key Forces Shaping K–12 Learning in 2026

The annual report identifies the top challenges schools must overcome, trends driving innovation, and tools transforming teaching and learning this year.