Jake St. Jean works as a certified ELA Teacher at Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Middle School, which offers “instruction in traditional core subjects infused with a love of the arts” in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Recently, he shared with us a community-family-school partnership program that helps reduce student anxiety and improve self-esteem and wellness.
Read on to learn how this one school’s Braids & Fades program has improved student well-being and more . . .
At my school, community partnerships go beyond the usual academic or enrichment programs. Inspired by Rachelle Dene Poth’s idea that schools must foster family engagement and build strong ties between school, home, and community, we’ve developed a unique initiative that’s making a real difference: the Braids & Fades program.
What is it? Simply put, it’s a way for students to get free braids or haircuts right at school. We’ve teamed up with a local barbershop and a talented braider to offer this service. Families can easily reach out to the principal to schedule appointments for their students.
Why even hair is important for student well-being
Why is this so important? Middle school can be a challenging time—and sometimes, small things like worrying about your next haircut adds extra stress. By addressing this need, our principal has built trust and strong relationships with families. It’s a simple yet powerful way to show that we care about students’ overall well-being and not just their academics.
I remember back in middle and high school, teachers often said things like, “This isn’t a beauty shop,” whenever students talked about hairstyles. Our school has flipped that narrative by bringing the beauty shop into the school. This approach humanizes our educational environment, making it more welcoming and supportive. As researchers Annela Teemant,Gina Borgioli Yoder, Brandon J. Sherman and Cristina Santamaría Graff highlight in their paper “An Equity Framework for Family, Community, and School Partnerships,” educators must have the moral courage to humanize schooling through community partnerships—empowering students to grow as learners and citizens.
📚 Your community-centered reading list
On the Same Team: Discover how the Families and Educators Together (FET) framework can help create strong family-school partnerships and foster a culture of inclusion and support for underrepresented groups. Current research and real classroom examples make this a valuable guide for cultivating trust.
Beyond Conversations About Race: Written by a collective of brilliant authors, this essential work provokes respectful dialogue about race that catalyzes school-changing action. The book masterfully weaves together an array of scenarios, discussions, and challenging topics to help prepare all of us to do better in our schools and communities.
The Wraparound Guide: Your school has the power to help students overcome barriers to well-being and achievement—from mental health issues to substance abuse to trauma. With this timely guide, discover actionable steps for launching and sustaining wraparound services embedded within your school that support the whole child.
Why a sense of community is key to student success
Research proves the importance of community in school to student well-being. In the book Principals Matter, authors Mavis G. Sanders and Steven B. Sheldon emphasize that family and community involvement are crucial for student success. While Braids & Fades might not seem directly related to academics, it helps reduce student anxiety and allows students to present their best selves every day. This program builds trust not only between families and the school but also strengthens ties with the broader community.
The impact of body image on a young person’s mental health is significant, with a survey by the Mental Health Foundation revealing that 35% of young people aged 13–19 tend to worry about their body image. A negative body image can lead to low self-esteem, increased anxiety, and social isolation, underscoring the importance of programs that help students feel confident and supported.
Beyond individual well-being, studies show a sense of belonging is a critical factor in academic success. When students feel they are valued members of their school community, their engagement increases, negative behaviors diminish, and academic achievement improves. This is a key finding from research by John Hattie, who emphasizes that a sense of belonging, along with strong teacher-student relationships, meaningfully contributes to accelerating academic success. According to experts, this sense of belonging is even more crucial for minority students, whose learning experiences and attendance rates can improve significantly when they see their communities represented in the school.
A holistic view of well-being
The concept of student well-being itself is multifaceted, encompassing a range of domains. A review of studies on the topic identified eight key areas: positive emotion, lack of negative emotion, relationships, engagement, accomplishment, purpose at school, intrapersonal factors, and contextual factors. The Braids & Fades program directly addresses several of these, fostering positive emotions, strengthening relationships, and providing a powerful external factor that supports student health.
Moreover, the benefits of family and community engagement extend far beyond individual student outcomes. When schools, families, and community members work together, it leads to:
- Increased student achievement: Collaboration is associated with higher rates of promotion and lower dropout rates.
- Improved student attendance and behavior: Family involvement is a more significant influence on attendance than incentive-based programs.
- Enhanced staff understanding: It helps school staff better grasp the unique needs and cultural contexts of their local community.
- A stronger school reputation: Positive community engagement can lead to increased interest and enrollment.
At the end of the day, initiatives like this remind students that their school, family, and community truly care about them. And when students feel supported, success naturally follows.
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