5 Connection Strategies to Strengthen Attendance, Engagement & Resilience
Sometimes the first step toward better attendance, behavior, and engagement is helping a student feel like they matter when they walk through the door.
Community Schools are built around an important idea: students are more likely to thrive when schools address barriers to learning and surround them with meaningful support.
Free webinar for educators
Wednesday September 23rd, 2026
1:00 – 2:00 PM MT | 12 PT | 2 CT | 3 ET
But one challenge remains:
How do we engage the students who are least likely to connect with those supports?
- Students who are chronically absent.
- Students who have stopped trying.
- Students whose behavior pushes adults away.
- Students who don’t feel connected to school.
- Students who have learned to believe that school isn’t for them.
The First Five – for Community Schools
In this practical webinar, we’ll explore five simple strategies educators can use in the first five minutes of class to begin changing that experience.
In This Conversation, We’ll Explore
KNOWN — Notice Me
Help students experience: Who you are matters here.
SUPPORTED — Who’s Got Your Back?
Help students recognize that they don’t have to navigate challenges alone.
CONNECTED — Find the Common Ground
Create quick opportunities for students to discover shared experiences and build belonging.
MOTIVATED — What’s Worth Showing Up For?
Help students connect school to people, opportunities, goals, and experiences that matter to them.
EMPOWERED — Make It Better
Give students ownership in creating a stronger classroom and school community.
Together, these strategies are designed to support:
Attendance • Behavior • Motivation • Connection • Resilience
More Than Five Activities
We’ll also explore what sits underneath these strategies:
– Relationships — helping students feel known and valued.
– Relevance — helping students see a reason to engage and keep trying.
– Resilience — helping students respond to challenges, setbacks, and adversity.
You’ll see additional practical tools you can use with students who are disengaged, discouraged, or difficult to reach.
Join us for this discussion!
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026
1:00 – 2:00 PM MT | 12 PT | 2 CT | 3 ET
Save your spot!
💬 Know a colleague who’d benefit? Share the link—this is a conversation every educator should be part of.
Meet our panelists:
Bruce Bushnell
Bruce Bushnell has dedicated more than 35 years to helping young people succeed. A former high school counselor and Utah Counselor of the Year, Bruce has served in numerous education leadership roles and has been an important contributor to the development of the WhyTry Program and its learning activities. He has worked with WhyTry for many years as a trainer, consultant, and program director, and today oversees community partnerships. Bruce’s career has been recognized with multiple honors for his service to students, schools, and youth development.
Hans Magleby
Hans Magleby is the founder of WhyTry and creator of the WhyTry Program, a practical toolkit used in thousands of schools and districts across the U.S. and internationally to help motivate and engage students and build resilience. A former teacher with over 25 years of experience in training and educational consulting, Hans specializes in student engagement and educator support. With a background in fine art, technology, and instructional design, he brings a creative approach to equipping educators with practical strategies and resources to build strong teacher-student relationships and foster resilience in the classroom.