September is National Attendance
Awareness Month, and DeSoto ISD is shining a spotlight on the importance of
daily attendance as the foundation for student success. With the theme Every
Day Counts, the district is launching a four-part video series and sharing
practical strategies to help families build healthy attendance habits at home.
“Attendance is about more than just
being present—it’s about ensuring our scholars are connected, supported, and
set up for lifelong success,” said DeSoto ISD Superintendent Dr. Usamah
Rodgers. “We are committed to working alongside families and community
partners to remove barriers and celebrate the wins that keep our students on
track.”
Top 5 Attendance Tips for
Success
To support families in building
consistent attendance habits, DeSoto ISD recommends:
- Set a Routine – Create consistent bedtimes and
morning schedules to help students start the day prepared.
- Plan Ahead – Lay out clothes, pack lunches,
and organize backpacks the night before.
- Schedule Smart – Book medical and personal
appointments outside school hours whenever possible.
- Communicate Early – Contact your child’s school if
challenges such as transportation, health, or family needs arise.
- Celebrate Attendance Wins – Recognize effort and
consistency; every day in class adds up to long-term success.
DeSoto ISD Four-Part
Attendance Awareness Video Series
Throughout the month, the district
will release a weekly video series across its digital platforms, highlighting
voices from schools, courts, and the community, as well as scholars themselves.
- Installment 1:
Prevention Through Partnerships
Featuring Student Support Services
Coordinator Aijon Lair
“When schools, families, and
community partners work together, we can identify challenges early and
connect families with resources before attendance becomes a bigger issue,”
--Aijon Lair.
- Installment 2: Building Healthy
Attendance Habits
Featuring Truancy Officer Angela
Stanley
“We know life happens, but
small daily habits—like setting routines and communicating with
schools—make a big difference in keeping students on track,” --Angela
Stanley.
- Installment 3: A Judicial
Perspective
Featuring the City of DeSoto Truancy
Judge
(focus: legal framework,
accountability, and support).
- Installment 4: Scholar Voices
Featuring middle and high school
students sharing why attendance matters to them.
Shifting the Narrative:
From Punitive to Proactive
Through this campaign, DeSoto ISD is
reframing attendance as a shared community responsibility and a pathway to
opportunity. By centering student voice and building strong partnerships, the
district aims to not only improve attendance rates but also strengthen trust
and connection with families.
“Attendance connects directly to
achievement, graduation, and life opportunities,” said Dr. Gene Morrow,
Executive Director of Student Support Services. “Our goal is to support
families so that daily attendance becomes not just a requirement, but a
celebration of each student’s progress toward their future.”
“Every absence is a lost opportunity
for learning, but every presence is a step toward our scholars’ dreams,” added
Dr. Rodgers.
Join the conversation: #AttendanceMatters
#EveryDayCounts #DeSotoISD
For more information about DeSoto ISD’s
programs, services and initiatives, please visit www.DeSotoisd.org.