Dr. Anthony F. Maxwell
Associate Director of Attendance and Engagement
When September began, I asked a simple question: “Why be at school?”
Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen that question answered in classrooms, homes, and communities across Eastern Kentucky. And while the answers are as unique as the people who shared them, one theme runs through them all: showing up matters—because we matter to one another.
Everyday Moments That Matter
- A middle school student told us she comes to school because her best friend “always saves me a seat at lunch.”
- A parent shared that he rearranged his work schedule so he could take his son to school.
- A teacher started class each day with a check-in circle, and noticed that students who once missed regularly began showing up more often.
- A local business owner posted #WhyBeAtSchool in their front window, sparking conversations with customers.
- A district created a strong social media presence to celebrate student successes, share reminders, and highlight the importance of showing up every day.
- And across the region, we’ve seen even more evidence that communities are stepping up to answer the “why.”
From “Why” to “How”
Our first blog focused on why attendance matters. This month, we’ve begun to see the how:
Powell County recently held a High Attendance Day where students showed up at a remarkable 94.4% rate. Their “High Five Attendance Club” celebrates students who maintain strong attendance with positive incentives—reminding everyone that showing up deserves recognition, not punishment.
Lee County has taken a clear, family-friendly approach by helping parents understand that missing 17 or more days places a child in the “chronically absent” category. That clarity has opened the door for better conversations between schools and caregivers about how to avoid reaching that threshold.
Letcher County, still healing from the 2022 floods, is mapping absenteeism patterns to find communities most in need of support. By working with churches and local groups, schools are reaching families where they live and rebuilding a sense of connection, one relationship at a time. At the same time they have created a savage social media presence facilitated by students that makes us all want to “show up, stand out, and succeed. This social media campaign rivals those coming from top-notch public relations firms!
These aren’t just programs or policies—they’re reminders that solutions work best when they are rooted in the realities of each community.
What We’re Learning in Eastern Kentucky
- Positive incentives matter. Powell County’s High Five Club shows that celebrating success motivates students more than penalties ever could.
- Clarity builds partnership. Lee County’s concrete definition of chronic absenteeism helps families see the path forward. This proactive approach finds solutions before challenges become crises.
- Rooted outreach works. Letcher County’s church- and neighborhood-based partnerships remind us that attendance is a community effort, not just a school mandate.
The Work Ahead
Attendance Awareness Month may be over, but the real test is what happens next. Every day is a chance to build momentum. Every conversation with a student, every supportive call home, every ride given, every message of encouragement—it all adds up.
So I’ll leave you with two questions as we move forward:
- How can we continue making school a place people want to be?
- And what can each of us do, in our role, to help someone show up tomorrow?
The future is built one day at a time—and together, from Powell to Lee to Letcher County and beyond, we’re showing up for it.
About the Author
Dr. Anthony Maxwell has spent three decades shaping education across Southeastern Kentucky and Northeastern Tennessee. He began his career as an elementary teacher at Middlesboro Elementary School in Kentucky while also serving as an adjunct faculty member at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Over the years, he has served as an instructional coach, school principal, and central office administrator, gaining a reputation for building strong schools and lasting community partnerships. Today, he is the Associate Director of Attendance and Engagement at Partners for Rural Impact, where he works with schools and families to strengthen student success. With 30 years of experience, Tony brings both deep knowledge and practical wisdom to his belief that attendance, belonging, and relationships are the cornerstones of learning and opportunity.
Showing Up Together: Stories of Attendance in Action
When September began, I asked a simple question: “Why be at school?” Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen that question answered in classrooms, homes,
The Power of Striving Together
Last week I had the opportunity to attend my first StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network Convening. On my flight to Atlanta, I kept thinking about
One of 15: Rosie Stafford Earns Prestigious GPC Certification
We are thrilled to share that our Program Manager, Rose-Linda “Rosie” Stafford, has joined an elite group of just 15 professionals in Kentucky to earn
Why Be at School? Because the Future Is Built One Day at a Time
As National Attendance Awareness Month begins, I think back on 30 years in education—and it’s not the ceremonies or milestones I remember most, but the
Rural AmeriCorps: Building Communities from the Inside Out
— Dreama Gentry, President and CEO, Partners for Rural Impact AmeriCorps is often framed as an urban program, where young people travel to unfamiliar cities
Turning the Page on Our Literacy Crisis Will Require All of Us
Editor’s Note: This blog post is co-authored by Dr. Felicia Cumings Smith, President & CEO of the National Center for Family Learning, and Dreama Gentry,