Don Parker

Students do not put up walls to avoid relationships, but to see who cares enough to break the walls down. Research shows that building relationships with students increases engagement, motivation, test scores, and grade point averages while decreasing absenteeism, dropout rates, and discipline issues.

Nurture positive student-teacher relationships to improve student engagement, behavior, and achievement for youth at risk. Research shows that discipline problems are one of the greatest challenges in education. In Building Bridges, author Don Parker shows educators how to address this issue head-on.

Researchers and practitioners alike agree that schools will not achieve high levels of learning for all students until improvements are made to school culture. Recent events, including the global pandemic, teacher wellness, staff absence, and the national teacher shortage has made it crystal clear that people matter more than programs and systems.

“Be the Driving Force is a powerful resource because it is personal, reliable, and practical,” writes educator and author William D. Parker. Principals will discover insightful guidance on building self-confidence, leading with integrity, and ensuring equity in education and culturally responsive practices.