Relationships are the foundation of great learning: kids known by name by adults, welcomed as their whole selves, in schools that feel like home

Relationships are the foundation of great learning; kids known by name by adults, who are welcomed as their whole selves, in schools that feel like home.

About this proposal: This statement was drafted by the MSEG team to capture the common thread across 9 comments shared on the What's Working board at the June 1, 2026 community engagement session. The original comments appear below, unedited, so you can see exactly what was said. Read all 159 comments from the session.

What we heard

• Best part about my school year is making relationships
• Teachers build a sense of belonging in the classroom, engage families in their students' learning, welcome the whole self
• Joy! Academic growth, staff, community
• Kids having relationships with faculty
• Teachers who take the time to get to know, see, build trust, and teach to need change kids' lives
• Every student knows my tag line, "love you lots!"
• My kids feel safe there; adults know them; teachers are creative; Music! Art! Garden!
• A school that is safe for my students and feels like home
• The best thing: everything, but most of all the relationship with students