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Closing the Attendance Impact Gap Part 2: 3 Steps to Maximize Return on Attendance, and What Absence Really Costs
Thursday, February 19, 2026 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
Presented by Kate Pechacek, Former Teacher, Current K12 Strategic Consultant, No Isolation; Carsten Apsel, Head of School, German International School Washington D.C. (MD); and Roland Jones, Former Teacher, Current K12 Partnerships, No Isolation
Sponsored by No Isolation
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
When student attendance declines, the impact extends far beyond individual classrooms. Absence creates a ripple effect across entire school systems, affecting student learning and well-being, educator capacity, school culture, community trust, and district finances.
In this second edWebinar in the four-part Closing the Attendance Impact Gap series, we examine attendance not as a compliance issue, but as a systems challenge with compounding costs. Missed instructional time leads to learning gaps that require additional intervention. Inconsistent attendance strains teachers and support staff. Over time, chronic absence can weaken school culture, erode family trust, and influence enrollment and funding stability.
Drawing on research and the real-world experience of school leaders, this edWebinar helps viewers understand where the true costs of absence show up, and why reactive approaches often fall short. A practicing school leader shares firsthand insights into how attendance challenges affect students, staff, and operations, and what has made a meaningful difference in practice.
Viewers are also introduced to three strategic moves districts can make to maximize their “return on attendance” by strengthening prevention, improving cross-department coordination, and aligning family engagement with attendance goals.
Viewers leave with a clearer understanding of how attendance impacts funding in their state, how it connects to academic and operational outcomes, and practical strategies to address attendance in ways that deliver benefits far beyond daily counts. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to teachers, school leaders, and district leaders of all grade levels.
View part one: 5 Gap-Filling Strategies for Solving the Attendance Paradox
Stay tuned for parts 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.
Carsten Apsel is the Head of School (Schulleiter) at the German International School Washington D.C., where he has served since 2022. He brings over two decades of experience as a school leader and educator in both Germany and the United States. Prior to relocating to the U.S., Carsten spent nine years as Head of School at Lessing-Gymnasium Norderstedt in Germany, following earlier roles as deputy head and classroom teacher. His leadership experience spans school operations, instructional quality, and student well-being. Carsten is deeply committed to inclusive learning environments and to finding practical, human-centered solutions that keep students connected to school—even during periods of absence.
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 earning a CE certificate and our 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.
