Creating Harmony & Belonging as a Solution to Chronic Absenteeism

Clark County School District reduced chronic absenteeism by an impressive 9% in just one year. Using the Harmony Curriculum, they’ve fostered belonging and built life skills among students. Harmony Educator and Leader Certificate Programs are empowering thousands of CCSD educators. And district family engagement centers, enriched with Harmony at Home resources, link families to students’ learning. Together, Harmony Academy and CCSD are creating a culture of connection and success. Explore how they’re making it happen!

Fostering Harmony and Belonging as a Solution to Chronic Absenteeism 
co-authored by Dr. Fisher, Dr. Milliron, Dr. Yoder and Denise Diaz

Meet Our Contributors:

Dr. Fisher is a professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University. He is also a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College (HSHMC), an award-winning, open-enrollment public school in San Diego which he co-founded in 2007. Dr. Fisher’s areas of interest include instructional design, curriculum development, and professional learning. He has published over 250 books, chapters, and articles focused on school improvement and entered the Reading Hall of Fame in 2022.

With a remarkable 26-year tenure serving CCSD families, Ms. Diaz has a rich background in education, dedicating 16 years to the classroom. Over the course of her career, her deep-seated passion for engaging families became increasingly apparent.  Ms. Diaz is committed to equipping schools with research-based practices and programs aimed at engaging families and making a positive impact on student achievement.

Dr. Milliron, an award-winning leader, author, speaker, and consultant, serves as the President & CEO of National University, one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Dr. Milliron helps catalyze positive change in education through his service on the boards and advisory councils of leading-edge education organizations. 

Dr. Yoder leads and manages the team that supports four core areas: research, policy, content, and professional learning—each with an equity lens. With a career in education spanning two decades, Dr. Yoder’s expertise in integrating social, emotional, and academic development into educational policy and practice has been pivotal.  Prior to Harmony, Dr. Yoder was the Director of Policy and Practice at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL).