Over the last two years, HUSD has led the way in reducing absenteeism rates by 17.7%. In fact, HUSD is the only school district in Riverside County to reduce rates by double-digits! This success was in a large part due to the launch of an innovative pilot program under the direction of Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Dr. Mary Wendland, aimed at addressing chronic absenteeism. The program, called Connection Counts, pairs staff members with students who struggle with consistent attendance, focusing on building meaningful relationships and helping students set goals rather than merely tracking attendance numbers.
Through regular meetings, mentors work to understand the unique challenges each student faces and find ways to support them. Dr. Wendland herself participated in the program, mentoring two students and emphasizing the mutual benefits of these connections.
“Mentorship can have a profound impact on students, but it also uniquely enriches the mentor,” Dr. Wendland shared, her eyes welling with emotion as she reflected on the connections she has made with her mentees over the course of the last year. With her next breath, she excitedly shared how she is already making plans to cheer them on at graduation.
Connection Counts is more than just a program—it’s a commitment to building meaningful relationships that drive student success. Already setting new records with its impactful results, the program was recently spotlighted by the Riverside County Office of Education. HUSD eagerly anticipates continued growth as the program expands district-wide this year.