Navigating school support for your child can feel overwhelming — especially when families are unsure what type of help is needed or how to begin the process of getting it.
We spoke with David Floeck, Assistant Principal and Supervisor of Attendance at Whitman Hanson Regional High School, to share insight into the challenges families face when seeking support and how schools and parents can work together to help students succeed.
Key Points From This Interview
- Why families often feel overwhelmed when seeking support
- How delays in intervention can impact attendance and academic progress
- Why partnership between parents and schools matters
- How open communication strengthens student outcomes
- What a collaborative approach looks like in practice
Educator Snapshot
Name: David Floeck
Role: Assistant Principal / Supervisor of Attendance
School: Whitman Hanson Regional High School
Department: Administration
Why Finding the Right Support Can Feel So Difficult
From David’s perspective, one of the biggest challenges families face is not a lack of caring — it’s uncertainty.
Many parents know something is not quite right, whether it’s declining grades, school avoidance, or changes in social interactions. But identifying what type of support is needed and where to find it can feel time-consuming and confusing, especially when families are unsure how to begin.
The process of determining whether a student needs school-based accommodations, outside therapy, attendance intervention, or another type of service can quickly become overwhelming.
When families feel unsure where to begin, they may delay action and hope things improve on their own.
Unfortunately, as David notes, concerns often do not resolve without intervention. In many cases, challenges continue to decline and begin significantly impacting school attendance, academic performance, and peer relationships.
How Delays in Support Affect Students
When early concerns are not addressed, small challenges can grow into larger ones.
Attendance may start to slip.
Grades may decline.
Social withdrawal may increase.
Over time, students can feel more disconnected from school and from their sense of competence.
Early action does not mean overreacting. It means responding before patterns become harder to reverse.
The Importance of Partnership With Schools
David emphasizes one core message: parents and schools share the same goal — the health and success of the child.
When families approach schools as partners rather than adversaries, communication becomes more productive and solutions become clearer.
Creating a partnership means:
- Communicating openly and honestly
- Sharing observations from home
- Listening to feedback from teachers and administrators
- Working together to identify appropriate supports
When families and schools collaborate, students benefit from a unified approach rather than mixed messaging.
Open Communication Is the Key
According to David, open and honest communication is what allows appropriate supports to be put in place — both inside and outside the school setting.
Schools can help families:
- Understand available in-school supports
- Navigate attendance concerns
- Explore intervention options
- Coordinate with outside providers when appropriate
At the same time, parents can help schools:
- Share changes they are seeing at home
- Communicate stressors impacting attendance or behavior
- Clarify what strategies are working (or not working)
A collaborative approach reduces misunderstandings and helps everyone stay aligned.
Supporting Families Who Feel Overwhelmed
It is common for families to feel unsure about what steps to take next. When the process feels confusing, it can be tempting to pause and hope for improvement without intervention.
David’s advice is to lean into partnership early. Schools are equipped to help guide families through available resources, explain processes, and identify practical next steps.
No parent is expected to navigate the system alone.
Recognizing the Power of Collaboration
A collaborative approach is not just helpful — it is often the key to growth and long-term success.
When communication is consistent and goals are shared, students experience greater stability and clearer expectations. Parents feel more supported. Schools can respond more effectively.
Partnership does not eliminate challenges, but it creates a framework for progress.
Key Takeaways for Families
- Finding the right support can feel overwhelming and time-consuming
- Waiting for concerns to improve on their own often leads to further decline
- Early communication helps prevent larger challenges
- Parents and schools share the same goal: student health and success
- Open, honest communication strengthens outcomes
- A collaborative approach is the foundation for growth
