David Ashworth
Principal at Burlington Elementary School
Webinar Description
Wednesday, April 22 at 2:00 PM (ET) | 11:00 AM (PT)
Chronic absenteeism continues to impact learning, accountability, and student well-being. Schools often respond after patterns emerge with compliance-driven or punitive measures that address symptoms rather than causes.
Absenteeism is typically a signal of deeper challenges such as disconnection, unmet needs, or barriers outside the classroom. When leaders focus on understanding the “why,” they can create meaningful, lasting change.
In this session, school and district leaders will gain strategies to identify root causes, build a cross-functional stakeholder team, and implement a proactive, tiered framework grounded in school climate, culture, and belonging.
Can’t attend live? Register today, and we’ll send you the recording to watch at your convenience!
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
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Identify root causes contributing to chronic absenteeism.
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Analyze attendance data to inform targeted action.
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Build a cross-functional team to lead proactive support.
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Design a tiered framework grounded in climate, culture, and belonging.
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Evaluate the effectiveness of attendance strategies using appropriate measures.
Presenter
David Ashworth has dedicated the past 23 years to educating children. Serving in the Appalachian foothills along the Ohio River where he grew up, Mr. Ashworth is a champion for students typically labeled as underserved, underprivileged, impoverished, and overlooked. His high-poverty community is not poor. It’s rich. It’s rich in culture, history, pride, and resiliency. Mr. Ashworth believes his students are created for big things. Educators are just here to give them the skills and tools needed for them to build their purpose for a continually brighter future.
Mr. Ashworth earned his teaching degree from Shawnee State University. While serving as a middle school teacher, he earned two graduate degrees–Communications from Marshall University and Educational Leadership from Ohio University–and added superintendent licensure in recent years. He has served in administration for 13 years.
Keeping to the belief that nothing is too big for his students, Mr. Ashworth embraces “big idea” concepts. His events and programs for children encourage them to dream with self-efficacy that those dreams can become reality. These events include dropping a one-ton pumpkin from 100 ft., kissing pigs, and skydiving Santa from an airplane as his school watched the red suited man land safely in their yard. Mr. Ashworth created the Gentlemen’s Academy, a training for young boys in manners and life skills. He also created the annual Burlington Black History Bus Tour which features real history from his community. Life and learning, as well as a life of learning, are fun!
Accolades include a nationally publicized CBS story where Mr. Ashworth knew 800 names in his elementary building. Last fall, his students prepared a celebration for their school resource officer, Sargent Randy, which was so moving it was featured in a story on NBC Nightly News. His school, Burlington Elementary, continues to make gains in academics, behavior, and attendance by keeping a focus on the positive.
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