Through the Eyes of an Educator
Ms. Grant decided to follow up. Instead of forwarding Trevor’s name to the principal as a disciplinary matter, she called home. The number went unanswered. The next day, she tried again. Finally, she reached his mother.
“Miss, we’ve been struggling,” the mother said quietly. “His dad’s working on another island, and our car broke down. Trevor has to stay home with his younger brother until I get off work.”
That single call changed everything. What looked like apathy was really a barrier. And it’s in moments like this that the philosophy of compassionate education — what The Way calls leadership through understanding — truly matters.
What the Research Says
The U.S. Institute of Education Sciences (IES) notes that text message reminders to parents reduce chronic absence by up to 18%. Other findings show that early warning systems, combined with mentoring and parent partnerships, can reverse attendance decline within one semester.
In The Bahamas, the Ministry’s adoption of the EMIS (Education Management Information System) marks a positive step toward data-driven accountability. Schools can now flag students who miss multiple days early — before it becomes a chronic issue.
However, data alone cannot solve absenteeism. Students return to classrooms because they feel seen, supported, and significant.
