Episode #43 How to increase attendance rates with Al Dawe COO at University Prep

SHOW NOTES

Alastair Dawe, COO at University Preparatory Schools

Connect with Alastair on LinkedIn

Website:

https://uprepschool.org/

EPISODE SUMMARY

Chronic absenteeism has surged in schools post-COVID, creating significant challenges for student success. In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast host Daniel Casselli sits down with Alastair Dawe, COO at University Preparatory Schools, to discuss how his team tackled attendance issues head-on. From crafting a school-wide culture of attendance to implementing data-driven incentives and intervention strategies, Al shares the journey that moved University Prep’s attendance rates back toward pre-pandemic levels. Tune in for actionable insights on driving student engagement and attendance in your school community.

EPISODE TAKEAWAYS

• The Attendance Challenge Post-COVID: How shifting family-school relationships and unclear norms impacted student attendance.
• Data-Driven Solutions: The power of tracking attendance metrics through accessible dashboards.
• Incentives That Work: How University Prep's "No More Than Five to Thrive" campaign boosted attendance with rewards and celebrations.
• Effective Interventions: The step-by-step approach to family outreach, from phone calls to home visits.
• Lessons in Leadership: Why buy-in from staff, students, and families is crucial for success.

RESOURCES

Book:  The Four Disciplines of Execution

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Attendance Challenges
03:40 Impact of COVID-19 on School Attendance
07:57 Pre and Post-COVID Attendance Metrics
09:08 Barriers to Consistent Attendance
13:31 Recognizing the Need for Change
15:45 Implementing a Systematic Approach
19:08 Incentivizing Attendance
26:42 Intervention and Escalation Framework
33:14 Tracking and Measuring Improvement
38:34 Advice for Other Leaders
41:51 Future Steps and Onboarding New Students

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Al Dawe is a results-driven business leader with a proven track record of helping organizations scale through strategic growth initiatives. With a strong analytical and commercially minded approach, he excels in driving operational and organizational change while fostering high-performing teams. Al’s expertise spans multiple departments, where he effectively manages growth strategies, enhances stakeholder communication from C-suite to entry level, and delivers impactful results. His strategic mindset and strong work ethic make him a key driver of sustainable success in any organization.

ABOUT OUR HOST

Daniel Casselli is a life-long learner whose passion for education has driven his professional endeavors. He is a former classroom teacher and youth ministry director whose entrepreneurial spirit landed him in the world of education technology. At EVERFI Inc., Daniel helped run the business development efforts for EVERFI’s Financial Education Program and the company was eventually sold to Blackbaud for $750M in 2021. Shortly before EVERFI’s acquisition, Daniel joined Class Technologies as one of the earliest sales hires and went on to lead K12 Enterprise Sales and helped the company land its first 100+ K12 customers across public, charter, and private schools. Daniel brings his unique experiences to BuyQ where he is focused on growth, operational excellence, business strategy, and client satisfaction. He is a graduate of Grove City College where he studied Religion and History. 

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