Newsletter Strategies to Improve Attendance

Connecting with families and amplifying the importance of students showing up is a year-round priority, and you don’t need to start from scratch. Your existing school or district newsletter can play an integral role in driving that awareness.

Join David Leshaw and Dr. Kara Stern, PhD, of SchoolStatus & Smore, for a free webinar on turning the newsletter you’re already sending into something that educates families, builds their trust, and reduces chronic absences.

You’ll leave with a framework you can use in your own newsletters, school- or district-wide, to improve attendance, along with ready-to-use templates.

During this free webinar, you’ll learn:

How to turn routine communication into moments that build family trust, and keep kids showing up
A simple framework for balancing informational and engagement-focused newsletter content
How to use ready-made templates to celebrate, invite, and speak directly to families—the kind of outreach that supports better attendance

Smore mascot with a clipboard and stars inside a blue circle.

Dr. Kara Stern

Director, Education and Engagement, SchoolStatus & Smore

Dr. Kara Stern has seen school from just about every angle: high school English teacher, middle school principal, fellowship director for math and science teachers across New York City, and head of school at a rural N-12 school. That breadth is what she brings to her work at Smore, where she writes, speaks, and challenges educators to build the kinds of school communities where every student thrives. She holds a Master’s in Education Leadership from Teachers College and a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from NYU.

David Leshaw

Director of Growth Marketing, SchoolStatus & Smore

David began his career working as an Admissions Director at a high school in New York City, later becoming a Director of Growth Marketing at Smore and SchoolStatus, where he is responsible for coordinating the multi-channel marketing efforts for the beloved Smore brand.