There is a part of the conversation about student engagement that we don't talk about nearly enough. What happens when the adult who built the connection isn't there anymore? Not because the relationship wasn't important. Not because the teacher didn't care. Sometimes the teacher simply disappears.

Contract season will likely always carry a degree of uncertainty. Schools are dynamic organizations operating within larger systems that must constantly adapt. Still, as decisions are made in the coming months, it may be worth asking one additional question alongside budget projections and enrollment counts. Not only “What positions do we need?” But also, “What relationships are worth protecting?”