A Note from Our COO, Kevin Ozar

Kevin Ozar, COO, The Chalkboard Agency

Recently, I had the privilege of spending a day with the entire junior class at a high school just outside of Detroit, MI.  I was hired for half of a school day as a guest facilitator and presenter.  The administrators had a very specific goal and a very interesting dilemma.   

Here was the situation.

The students had just come back from a nine-day Spring Break. The very next day they were scheduled to take the SAT.

Think about that for a second.

They go from staying up late, sleeping in, hanging out with friends, binge-watching Netflix, opening the refrigerator 27 times a day (only to discover that nothing had changed from the first time you opened it) and having full control of their schedule.  No bells, no classes, no halls.  For nearly 10 days… “full vacation mode.” Suddenly, someone says, “Welcome back. Tomorrow, you take one of the most important tests of your high school career. Hope you are ready!”

That’s a pretty steep hill to climb for anyone, of any age, let alone 16-year-olds.  Here was the best part.  The school knew what they were up against.  They recognized the timing was far from ideal, and instead of just throwing up their hands and saying, “Oh well,” they leaned in and took action. 

When an administrator has the wherewithal to not only acknowledge the moment at hand, but act upon it, something powerful can happen.  Steps can be taken, choices can be made and success can be crafted. That is what this school did and that is why my phone rang.  They explained the circumstances, laid out their concerns, and shared what they wanted.  I said, “I’m In!”, and we were off and running. 

Early on, during one of our planning meetings, one of the Admin said something I loved:

"I want our kids to know we love them. I want to welcome them back from break and encourage them to really try when on the SAT. Let’s have fun, break up the usual day, and treat the kids to something special."

I remember thinking, "This school really gets it.”  So, I set off to build the day they needed. Here is how it went down. 

The first thing I noticed pretty quickly was how they walked in. They were half awake, a bit cranky and not super excited to be there. First day back…I get it. But then, we jumped right in.  The room woke up very quickly.  Within just a few minutes, they were really listening.  Listening led to reaction, reaction led to talking, talking led to laughing.  Then, we started to play.  They started pulling each other into activities, encouraging each other, and just like that, they were back.  By the end of the day, I knew we had hit the mark.  The kids were in a completely different headspace.  They did feel that love from the adults, and they did feel welcomed back.  The students had shifted from “vacation mode” into “school mode”.  

We played together, had some friendly competitions, did activities, and told some stories. They laughed with each other. We laughed together. They laughed at me... And by the end of the morning, the energy in the room had completely shifted. 

The next day, instead of walking into SAT week feeling disconnected, they walked into it together. Focused, ready and supported. 

It was one of the best days of my career.  

Truthfully, this is not an isolated incident.  Over the years, I’ve discovered a truth.  When schools create shared experiences, even just a few hours, it can profoundly improve a student’s attitude toward school.  This time of year, especially as testing season arrives and the post-spring break routine sets in.  It is common (understandable) for schools to slip into autopilot, counting down days and just trying to hold things together until the summer break. Hunker down, don’t rock the boat. 

But after doing this work with schools for a long time, that’s exactly why moments like this matter.

When students come together—even for a short time—it creates a collective experience. And that’s where school culture lives.  Research backs that up too. According to ASCD, shared student experiences are strongly connected to higher motivation, stronger belonging, and better student well-being.

But honestly, you could feel it in the room without reading a single research study. By the end of the morning, the school had accomplished exactly what they hoped to do. The juniors felt welcomed back. They had fun. And they were encouraged to give their best effort.

Sometimes the smartest thing a school can do is pause the routine and give students a moment that reminds them they’re part of something bigger than the next test. Habits are hard to break. Routines are amongst the hardest.  Spring has its routines, but energy is a finite resource.  If you take a moment, catch your breath and truly ask “what do our students need right now?”, you might just find a better outcome awaits.

If you're wondering how to create a moment like that for your students, that's the kind of work I love being part of.

At The Chalkboard Agency, we design custom assemblies and student experiences for schools—from fifth graders through graduating seniors.

What I’m always hoping for is the same thing: a shared moment students will remember long after the day is over.

Moments that help them reconnect, refocus, and finish the year strong.

Be Well,

KO