What Are You Bringing to the Potluck?

Author Sheldon L. Eakins dishes up ways to build a school culture where students feel they belong. Through personal stories and practical tools, like the Sense of Belonging Tool, he helps educators tackle attitudes and behaviors that lead to exclusion. He offers leaders a way through their potential fears and the ingredients to create a supportive community, encourage empathy for students from all walks of life, and boost attendance and well-being.

K–12 administrators can use this book to:

• Value and understand the impact of belonging on student beliefs, perceptions, and health
• Revise school policies, mission statements, hiring practices, and budget allocation to foster equitable learning communities
• Create a belonging task force that connects school, students, families, and community members
• Study how a student’s attachment style can impact how they function at school
• Understand how to respect and appreciate differences without belaboring them or tokenizing cultures

Contents:
Introduction
Foreword by Darlene Reyes
Chapter 1: Leaders as Lifetime Learners
Chapter 2: Leaders as Stewards of Building
Chapter 3: Potential Pitfalls
Chapter 4: Amplified Student Voices
Chapter 5: Intersectionality
Epilogue: Going Forward
Appendix: Sense of Belonging Tool
References and Resources
Index