EP 91: Influence School Connectedness has on Students’ Performance

The topic for this week’s episode of the Making After School Cool Podcast is the Influence School Connectedness has on students’ performance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, students who feel connected to their schools are more likely to have better academic achievement, have better attendance, and are less likely to engage in behavior that may remove them from the classroom setting.  So, it should not be a surprise that there has emerged an increased awareness of how student’s feeling regarding their educational setting influence youth engagement with their schools. To discuss this issue is my guest, Helen Spencer.

During this podcast you will learn about the following:

• A working definition of Student Connectedness
• Why is Student Connectedness Important?
• How the campus environment and climate influence how students feel about their school?
• How can schools promote activities to increase student connectedness?

Guest

Helen is currently a doctoral student and research assistant at the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work. Her study includes researching contextual factors such as school support that promote adolescent wellbeing in complex families. She is a former journalist, who previously served as HCDE’s Chief Information Officer, supporting Technology and Communications. In this role, she became familiar with Out of School Time field including providing support for the mission of CASE for Kids to increase equitable access to youth services.

Helen received her Master of Social Work from the University of Houston, and has a daughter, who is also a student at the University of Houston, a stepdaughter, and two stepsons. She and her partner currently live in Houston TX

 

Resources

Helen Spencer

helencspencer@gmail.com

Mike Wilson

mwilson@hcde-texas.org

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

 CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone