Written by David Bielik
As the days grow longer and the weather warms, something else starts to rise, student disengagement. Students are 34% more likely to check out academically in the spring, and for historically marginalized groups, that number soars past 60%. You’ve seen it before: motivation fades, participation drops, and some students stop showing up altogether. When that happens, the countless hours, energy, and resources invested in their education risk going to waste. But the stakes are bigger than just missed assignments. When students disconnect before graduation, entire communities feel the ripple effect. The question isn’t just why this happens, but more importantly, how we can intervene before it’s too late.
The Power of Teacher-Student Relationships
Research by Robert Pianta and colleagues underscores the powerful role that strong teacher-student relationships play in student success. When students feel supported by their teachers, they are more engaged, achieve higher grades, and perform better on tests. Having even one caring, encouraging teacher significantly reduces the likelihood of dropping out, while schools that prioritize trust and connection see higher retention rates and lower absenteeism. These relationships are especially impactful when established early, as they set the foundation for long-term academic engagement. Additionally, a positive classroom environment, one that fosters emotional support, constructive feedback, and mutual respect, creates a safe space for students to participate, take risks, and stay committed to their education.
Turning Insights into Action: Administrators and Teachers
As an administrator, you juggle countless moving parts. Between managing policies, supporting teachers, and addressing student needs, it can be difficult to track every factor influencing student engagement. But understanding all these moving parts is essential because without that insight, it’s nearly impossible to tailor your approach and implement effective strategies.
So, what can you do to ensure students stay engaged on their path to graduation?
Professional Development for Teachers: Effective student engagement starts with strong teacher-student relationships, but building those relationships requires intentional effort and the right skills. Professional development should go beyond curriculum training to include trust-building, active listening, and culturally responsive teaching, but many programs lack time for practice, leaving tools and strategies unused. Educators need workshops and coaching that not only introduce concepts but also provide hands-on practice to ensure real classroom impact.
Mentorship Programs: Having a trusted adult in school can make a world of difference for students who struggle with motivation or belonging. A structured mentorship program pairs students with advisors, teachers, or staff members who check in regularly, provide guidance, and help students set academic and personal goals. These relationships give students a consistent support system, ensuring they always have someone to turn to for encouragement and accountability.
Collaborative Learning Models: Collaborative learning models provide opportunities for teachers to build stronger connections with students through interactive and engaging instruction. Strategies like project-based learning encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and real-world applications, allowing teachers to work closely with students in a more personalized way. Co-teaching and cross-grade collaboration further enhance these connections by bringing multiple educators together, offering diverse perspectives, and ensuring students receive more individualized support within a shared learning environment.
As a classroom teacher, you manage more than just lessons and grades, you’re constantly balancing instruction, student behavior, emotional well-being, and classroom dynamics. With so many factors at play, it can be challenging to pinpoint exactly why some students disengage while others thrive, but being mindful of your teaching practices, how you interact with students, and the classroom environment you create are key to increasing student engagement.
What can you do to help students stay motivated and persevere through challenges?
Listen to Student Voices: Understanding what truly impacts students starts with actively seeking their input. Regularly surveying and interviewing students allows educators to learn about their experiences, challenges, and motivations. Create opportunities for students to share their thoughts through open discussions, anonymous feedback forms, or one-on-one check-ins. More importantly, use what you learn to shape your approach: adjust teaching strategies, offer support based on their needs, and show students that their voices matter. When students see that their feedback leads to real changes, they are more likely to trust their teachers, stay engaged, and view the classroom as a space where they are heard and valued.
Build Meaningful Connections: Students are more likely to engage and succeed when they feel that their teachers genuinely care about them, not just as learners, but as individuals. Take time to learn about your students’ interests, aspirations, and challenges. Ask about their hobbies, acknowledge their achievements (both in and out of school), and show empathy when they struggle. Small moments of connection, like remembering a student’s favorite pastime or checking in on how their soccer game went, build trust and create a classroom culture where students feel seen and valued.
Provide Consistent Encouragement: A few words of encouragement can make a lasting impact on a student’s confidence and motivation. Many students struggle with self-doubt, and a simple “I believe in you!” or “You’ve got this!” can shift their mindset. Recognize effort, not just results, by praising perseverance and growth. Celebrate small victories, like improvement on an assignment or participation in class discussion. Encouragement should be specific and meaningful, rather than a generic “good job,” try highlighting what a student did well, such as “I really appreciate the way you explained your reasoning on that math problem.” When students feel supported and believed in, they are more likely to stay engaged and push through challenges.
Create a Safe Learning Environment: Students thrive in classrooms where they feel safe, both emotionally and academically. A safe learning environment means students are comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and expressing their thoughts without fear of embarrassment or judgment. Establish clear expectations for respect and kindness, and model those behaviors in your interactions. Encourage inclusive discussions, address conflicts constructively, and make sure every student’s voice is heard. When students trust that their teacher respects them and their classmates support them, they become more engaged, take greater academic risks, and feel a stronger connection to their learning experience.
An Innovative Solution: MirrorIM
At Deo Mwano Consultancy, we recognize that tracking student engagement and relationships at scale is a major challenge. That’s why we’ve developed MirrorIM, a tool designed to help schools identify and address disengagement before students reach the point of giving up. MirrorIM provides actionable insights, helping administrators and educators understand which students need additional support and what strategies are most effective in keeping them engaged. By leveraging real-time data, schools can create stronger connections and improve student outcomes.
Student engagement isn’t just about academic success, it’s about giving every student the opportunity to reach their full potential. As an administrator or educator, you have the power to make a lasting impact by fostering strong relationships and implementing strategies that keep students connected to their education. The challenge is real, but so is the opportunity. By prioritizing relationships, tailoring your approach, and utilizing tools like MirrorIM, you can ensure that no student falls through the cracks.
The DMC Learning Success Team has over 30 years of combined experience in education, teaching in K-12 settings, and supporting learning success in college/university settings. Drawing from these experiences, DMC is committed to providing resources and tools related to our current work, which involves helping educational partners improve their culture through intentional and scalable solutions.