Change Starts Here

Chronic absenteeism has become one of the biggest challenges facing schools today. Nationally, nearly one in four students misses more than 10% of the school year, an alarming increase since the pandemic. In this episode of Change Starts Here, we dig into the data, the “why” behind the trend, and most importantly, what leaders and teachers can do about it.

Through real stories from the field, including an excerpt from principal John Thompson of Republic High School, we see how focusing on belonging helped reverse a years-long decline in attendance. The episode also highlights three powerful reasons students are still missing school, because it feels optional, boring, or uninviting, and offers practical, research-based strategies to address each one.

If you are looking for actionable ways to bring students back into classrooms and create schools where every child feels motivated to attend, this conversation is for you.

Do not forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Change Starts Here.

Download the Staff Booster:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/mspswb_k12

Download the Our Handouts:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/wsasu_k12

If you want to learn more about FranklinCovey, visit us at https://www.franklincovey.com/solutions/education/

Host: Kim Yaris. M.Ed.

Timestamps:

(00:00, 00:15) Open, Show ID

(00:15, 00:49) Why Attendance Now

(00:50, 01:33) Chronic Absenteeism, Defined

(01:33, 02:08) Why It Matters

(02:08, 03:12) Hearing from John Thomspon

(03:12, 04:17) The Numbers

(04:17, 05:12) Why Rates Stay High

(05:12, 06:25) Reason 1, Optional

(06:25, 07:37) Reason 2, Boring

(07:38, 08:24) Reason 3, Uninviting

(08:49, 09:12) Solutions Start

(09:12, 10:29) Strategy 1, Irreplaceable Learning

(10:29, 11:50) Strategy 2, Make It Relevant

(11:50, 13:26) Strategy 3, Relationships and Resources

What does it really take to build a school culture where every student can thrive? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with Dr. Christi Buell, an educator driven by her passion to create meaningful learning environments that every child deserves.

Christi shares how leaders can put people before programs to strengthen school culture, engage students and staff in the process of change, and turn vision into action. She also highlights the importance of celebrating small wins—early and often—as the foundation for lasting transformation.

If you’ve ever wondered how to shift culture, foster connection, and create schools where achievement and support go hand in hand, this conversation will inspire and challenge you to see leadership through a new lens.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Change Starts Here.

Download the Our Handout below:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/lbrlh_k12

If you want to learn more about FranklinCovey, visit us at https://www.franklincovey.com/solutions/education/

Connect with Dr. Buell on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/christi-buell-b2765716/

Host: Dustin Odham

Guest: Dr. Christi Buell (Assistant Superintendent, Teaching & Learning Arlington ISD)

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 02:58) Introduction

(02:59 - 03:43) Who is Dr. Buell

(03:44 - 06:04) Transformation in Education

(06:05 - 07:44) Where Do I Start?

(07:45 - 12:49) Creating the Why

(12:50 - 16:18) Know Your Who

(16:19 - 18:30) Leadership Habits

(18:31 - 24:03) Leader In Me

(24:04 - 31:56) Opening Up

(31:57 - 37:05) Implementing Action

(37:06 - 41:18) Pride and Drive

(41:19 - 47:42) A Foundation of Sand

(47:43 - 50:25) Book Recommendations

(50:26 - 51:31) Walk Up Song

(51:32 - 52:31) A Small Group

(52:32 - 54:11) Closing

What does it really take to build a school culture where every student can thrive? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham sits down with Dr. Christi Buell, an educator driven by her passion to create meaningful learning environments that every child deserves.

Christi shares how leaders can put people before programs to strengthen school culture, engage students and staff in the process of change, and turn vision into action. She also highlights the importance of celebrating small wins—early and often—as the foundation for lasting transformation.

If you’ve ever wondered how to shift culture, foster connection, and create schools where achievement and support go hand in hand, this conversation will inspire and challenge you to see leadership through a new lens.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Change Starts Here.

Download the Our Handout below:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/lbrlh_k12

If you want to learn more about FranklinCovey, visit us at https://www.franklincovey.com/solutions/education/

Connect with Dr. Buell on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/christi-buell-b2765716/

Host: Dustin Odham

Guest: Dr. Christi Buell (Assistant Superintendent, Teaching & Learning Arlington ISD)

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 02:58) Introduction

(02:59 - 03:43) Who is Dr. Buell

(03:44 - 06:04) Transformation in Education

(06:05 - 07:44) Where Do I Start?

(07:45 - 12:49) Creating the Why

(12:50 - 16:18) Know Your Who

(16:19 - 18:30) Leadership Habits

(18:31 - 24:03) Leader In Me

(24:04 - 31:56) Opening Up

(31:57 - 37:05) Implementing Action

(37:06 - 41:18) Pride and Drive

(41:19 - 47:42) A Foundation of Sand

(47:43 - 50:25) Book Recommendations

(50:26 - 51:31) Walk Up Song

(51:32 - 52:31) A Small Group

(52:32 - 54:11) Closing

Pamela Fuller is a wife, mother, author, speaker and FranklinCovey thought leader on bias and inclusion. When she was asked the Change Starts Here staple, inspired by former guest Brad Montague – “Why do you love what you do?” – her answer was rather simple.

As someone who works with leaders, she loves to feel like her guidance and effort are being multiplied by orders of magnitude throughout an organization and sparking waves of meaningful change.

On this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham was joined by Fuller to explore the topics of unconscious bias and inclusion, which can have a profound effect in education and beyond.

“When you look at designing curriculum and content, there’s a way in which you have to do that to be in alignment with adult learning principles,” she said. “You have to create activities and design ways for them to discover. It’s more show than tell. But there was so much more to say about it.

“There are so many different angles and ways in which you can think about the impact of bias on performance and, more important, what each leader, from wherever they lead in an organization or institution, can do to recognize those biases and mitigate the possible negative aspects.”

Listen to the entire episode for more insights on how educators, leaders and more can work to recognize and overcome unconscious bias to promote inclusion and equity in their organizations or institutions.

Great education requires transformational leaders. What it also requires are great school boards. The Center for Public Education outlines eight characteristics encompassing an effective school board, from accountability and unification to team development and defining a vision for high expectations for student achievement and quality instruction.

So, how does a school board become a great school board? The answer: by building a high-trust team.

On this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham switches gears from his standard show format to allow folks to gain insights and tips from experts on building those high-trust school board teams through a webinar presented by Khieem Jackson, Founder of the Mission Strategy Group, and Dr. Marty Schafer, a FranklinCovey Consultant, and Coach.

Throughout this webinar, Jackson and Schafer explore board superintendent roles, shared vision around student success, accountability aligned to board and superintendent evaluations, and community engagement aligned to leadership development.

During the webinar, Jackson and Schafer also cover the following topics:

• Increasing superintendent tenure and reducing school board turnover

• Addressing district and school board concerns and plans to build student-centric initiatives and outcomes

• The elements that go into building a great school board/superintendent team

“We believe if you’re going to be an effective or high-performing board, you got to get four things right,” Schafer said. Clarity around board and superintendent roles, shared vision around student success, accountability aligned to evaluations, and community engagement aligned to leadership development are those qualities Schafer and Khieem detail in the webinar that will lead to high-performing boards.

About Marty

Dr. Marty Schafer brings innovative leadership to build strategic teams through collaboration, curriculum, and shared vision resulting in the growth of educational, business, and community partnerships. He is a dedicated advocate for public education with 18 years of service as a board director of a diverse urban school district. Dr. Schafer holds a BA in Urban Planning from Western Washington University and a Doctorate in Ministry Leadership from Golden State Seminary.

About Khieem

Mission Strategy Group’s CEO and Founder, Khieem Jackson, is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) Veteran and senior-level government and community relations professional with diverse experience with federal, state, and local government advocacy, external relations, legislative affairs, issue management, and bi-partisan coalition building. He is a resourceful decision maker and efficient problem solver emphasizing common sense solutions. Jackson’s proven ability to excel in a fast-paced environment, particularly in “trial by fire” situations, served him well during his service on California’s Power of Democracy Steering Committee.

Change Starts Here: Research Conversations is back for a brand-new season! In this first episode, hosts Dr. Eve Miller Ph.D. and Kim Yaris, M.Ed explore the secret to sustaining that back-to-school energy all year long by building strong teacher-student relationships. They dive into real stories from the field, including how a kindergarten teacher transformed a crying student into a classroom leader and why seeing students through a lens of love and potential—rather than their challenges—makes all the difference.

Kim and Eve unpack the neuroscience behind why safety and connection are foundational to learning, sharing practical strategies like giving students meaningful roles, creating personal connection moments, and being intentional about building relationships with every student. They challenge educators to move beyond labels and see each student's full potential, showing that strong relationships aren't just nice to have—they're essential for opening minds to learning and creating lasting impact.

Start this new season with fresh insights on the power of human connection in education. Whether you teach kindergarten or high school, these research-backed strategies and real-world stories will help you build the relationships that transform classrooms.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Change Starts Here.

Download the Our Handout below:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/lbrlh_k12

If you want to learn more about FranklinCovey, visit us at https://www.franklincovey.com/solutions/education/

Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education); Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 01:21) Intro

(01:22 - 05:19) The Student-Teacher Relationship

(05:20 - 07:02) Neuroscience Lens of Child's Behavior and their Needs

(07:03 - 09:26) How to Connect with Older Students

(09:27 - 12:37) Complexity of Human Relationships

(12:38 - 14:59) How to Give Love to Students

(15:00 - 15:42) Resources Available to Listeners

(15:43 - 20:03) How to Build Relationships with Students

(20:04 - 21:36) Outro

Change Starts Here: Research Conversations is back for a brand-new season! In this first episode, hosts Dr. Eve Miller Ph.D. and Kim Yaris, M.Ed explore the secret to sustaining that back-to-school energy all year long by building strong teacher-student relationships. They dive into real stories from the field, including how a kindergarten teacher transformed a crying student into a classroom leader and why seeing students through a lens of love and potential—rather than their challenges—makes all the difference.

Kim and Eve unpack the neuroscience behind why safety and connection are foundational to learning, sharing practical strategies like giving students meaningful roles, creating personal connection moments, and being intentional about building relationships with every student. They challenge educators to move beyond labels and see each student's full potential, showing that strong relationships aren't just nice to have—they're essential for opening minds to learning and creating lasting impact.

Start this new season with fresh insights on the power of human connection in education. Whether you teach kindergarten or high school, these research-backed strategies and real-world stories will help you build the relationships that transform classrooms.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Change Starts Here.

Download Our Staff Booster Below:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/sbbrs_k12

Download the Our Handout below:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/lbrlh_k12

If you want to learn more about FranklinCovey, visit us at https://www.franklincovey.com/solutions/education/

Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed (Associate Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education); Dr. Eve Miller (Director of Research with FranklinCovey Education)

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 01:21) Intro

(01:22 - 05:19) The Student-Teacher Relationship

(05:20 - 07:02) Neuroscience Lens of Child's Behavior and their Needs

(07:03 - 09:26) How to Connect with Older Students

(09:27 - 12:37) Complexity of Human Relationships

(12:38 - 14:59) How to Give Love to Students

(15:00 - 15:42) Resources Available to Listeners

(15:43 - 20:03) How to Build Relationships with Students

(20:04 - 21:36) Outro

Ever worry that students might slip through the cracks, unnoticed for who they really are? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham shares a personal story about his son’s first days in middle school and the fear that he might become “just another face in the hallway.”

Through the stories of Emily, Marcus, and Jared; three students whose hidden genius is often overlooked. Dustin explores why the way we see students matters more than ever. He challenges teachers, principals, and district leaders to shift their paradigms, moving beyond test scores and labels to notice the humor, kindness, leadership, and potential in every child.

Be sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Change Starts Here.

Download the Pre-Game Paradigm Check below:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/limwehg_k12?&utm_source=facebook

If you want to learn more about FranklinCovey, visit us at https://www.franklincovey.com/solutions/education/

Host: Dustin Odham, Managing Director at Franklin Covey Education

Timestamps:

(00:00-00:18) Intro

(00:00-02:10) Back-to-School

(02:10-05:50) Emily, Marcus, and Jared

(05:50-07:35) Message to Teachers

(07:35-08:14) Message to Leaders

(08:14-10:15) Message to Districts

(10:15-11:51) Outro

Ever worry that students might slip through the cracks, unnoticed for who they really are? In this episode of Change Starts Here, host Dustin Odham shares a personal story about his son’s first days in middle school and the fear that he might become “just another face in the hallway.”

Through the stories of Emily, Marcus, and Jared; three students whose hidden genius is often overlooked. Dustin explores why the way we see students matters more than ever. He challenges teachers, principals, and district leaders to shift their paradigms, moving beyond test scores and labels to notice the humor, kindness, leadership, and potential in every child.

Be sure to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Change Starts Here.

Download the Pre-Game Paradigm Check below:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/limwehg_k12?&utm_source=facebook

If you want to learn more about FranklinCovey, visit us at https://www.franklincovey.com/solutions/education/

Host: Dustin Odham, Managing Director at Franklin Covey Education

Timestamps:

(00:00-00:18) Intro

(00:00-02:10) Back-to-School

(02:10-05:50) Emily, Marcus, and Jared

(05:50-07:35) Message to Teachers

(07:35-08:14) Message to Leaders

(08:14-10:15) Message to Districts

(10:15-11:51) Outro

Change Starts Here is back for a brand-new season! In this first episode, host Dustin Odham dives into how the way we see the year ahead shapes our leadership, our teams, and the impact we create. He explores why real change doesn’t come from doing it all at once, but from focusing on a few meaningful actions done well.

Dustin challenges listeners to call out growth, name potential, and lead with belief—showing that mindset and intentionality are just as important as results. Start the new season with purpose, reflection, and a commitment to making this year count.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Change Starts Here.

Download the See-Do-Get Story form below:

https://resources.franklincovey.com/season-6/sdgsflim_k12

If you want to learn more about FranklinCovey, visit us at https://www.franklincovey.com/solutions/education/

Host: Dustin Odham, Managing Director at Franklin Covey Education

Timestamps:

(00:00 - 00:28) Introduction

(00:29 - 01:59) Coming Into the Year

(02:00 - 03:45) New Year, New Ideas

(03:46 - 05:15) How Do You See Yourself?

(05:16 - 06:37) The Busy Addiction

(06:38 - 08:03) Moments of Culture

(08:04 - 10:12) Your Challenge

(10:13 - 10:50) Closing