Why do students disengage when every support is in place? Tomas Hanna says it might be because they can—and that simple truth demands a harder look at what school is really offering.

 

In this conversation, Tomas, Associate Superintendent of Secondary School Performance in the School District of Philadelphia, shares what he’s learned from decades in schools about purpose, power, and proximity. He explains why attendance is an equity issue, how to move from compliance to connection, and why he walked away from superintendency to get closer to students.

 

If you believe school should still be a place of possibility, this is your reminder that relevance, relationship, and readiness are not optional—they’re everything.