edWebinars
«Back to all edWebinarsClosing the Attendance Impact Gap Part 1: 5 Gap-Filling Strategies for Solving the Attendance Paradox
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST
Presented by Kate Pechacek, Former Teacher, Current K12 Strategic Consultant, No Isolation; and Roland Jones, Former Teacher, Current K12 Partnerships, No Isolation
Sponsored by No Isolation
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Over the past several years, school districts have made significant progress in building strong attendance systems. Clear processes, tiered supports, data monitoring, and cross-functional teams are now in place in many districts, and leaders can rightly say they have a strategy. And yet, improvements in chronic absence have not kept pace with the effort invested.
This first edWebinar in the four-part Closing the Attendance Impact Gap series explores the attendance paradox facing K–12 systems today: while attendance structures and processes have improved, they often produce only modest gains because the students most in need of support are frequently not present for those systems to reach. When students are physically absent or emotionally disengaged, traditional interventions alone have limited impact.
Designed for district and school leaders, this session introduces five gap-filling strategies that complement existing attendance systems by addressing what is often missing—connection, belonging, and readiness to return, particularly during periods of absence. Attendees will examine how attendance challenges have evolved, why system strengthening alone can have plateaued results, and how districts are extending their reach to students who cannot consistently attend in person.
Attendees will:
- Understand why strong attendance systems can still yield limited gains
- Identify five practical strategies to close attendance impact gaps
- Explore how connection and belonging influence attendance outcomes
Attendees will leave with actionable insights to strengthen attendance outcomes by reaching students whom traditional approaches struggle to reach. This edWebinar will be of interest to school leaders, district leaders, and teachers of all grade levels.
Stay tuned for parts two, three, and four of the Closing the Attendance Impact Gap series.
About the Presenters
Kate Pechacek serves as a K–12 Strategic Advisor to systems-improving education technology organizations and school districts, including No Isolation, and is the founder and CEO of OpendoorsEd. She began her 30-year career in education as a secondary mathematics teacher, serving for 15 years before holding multiple site- and district-level leadership roles in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and MTSS across districts nationwide. She then spent nearly a decade in education technology before founding OpendoorsEd. Kate is an internationally recognized speaker, including at the 2025 World Inclusion Congress in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and is passionate about systemic school improvement.
Roland Jones brings a unique perspective to educational innovation, bridging formal teaching credentials with deep expertise in technology adoption and digital transformation. A licensed educator with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Missouri, Roland’s educational journey spans two continents—having studied in both the United States and Australia at the University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music. With over 20 years driving technology solutions, Roland has specialized in helping institutions navigate complex digital transformations and maximize the value of innovative platforms.
His experience ranges from facilitating strategic change initiatives to partnering with organizations on solutions that drive measurable outcomes, including his current role leading new K12 partnerships for No Isolation. As a parent and former educator, Roland understands firsthand the critical importance of student engagement and attendance. He’s passionate about how technology can remove barriers to learning and create inclusive classroom environments where every student can participate fully, regardless of physical presence.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Creating a Positive School Climate community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
No Isolation is a mission-driven technology company dedicated to combating loneliness and social exclusion through human-centered innovation. Founded in Norway, the company designs communication tools that bridge gaps for individuals facing barriers to connection—especially young people unable to attend school due to illness, mental health challenges, or other circumstances.
Their flagship product, the AV1 telepresence robot, serves as a student’s eyes, ears, and voice in the classroom. Controlled remotely via a secure app, AV1 enables students to participate in lessons and maintain vital social ties with classmates, even from a hospital bed or home.
Used in over 2,500 schools across 18 countries, AV1 has supported more than 10,000 students, helping districts promote equity, belonging, and academic continuity. No Isolation also meets the highest standards of data security and privacy for students, staff, and families—making AV1 a trusted solution for inclusive education. Learn more at www.noisolation.com.
