By: Deborah Anderson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
It’s All Human Capital
I have visited classrooms in both high-performing and struggling schools, and one truth remains constant: there is a learning curve for those who genuinely care.
Students exist across a wide spectrum of engagement, from thriving to those who feel disconnected, reflecting a mix of positive, negative, and ambivalent attitudes. For staff, the reality includes long hours of preparation, significant emotional investment, and sometimes discouraging outcomes.
Yet, both students and educators represent valuable human capital. In 2026, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) emphasizes that school operations must prioritize investments in the well-being of students and staff.
Good News: Everything’s Actionable
There are always practical, actionable solutions that can help students and staff to reach their full potential. Through my experiences as a student, teacher, administrator, and mentor, I have seen how deeply stakeholders believe in
education’s shared responsibility and collective progress. Success in education does more than improve schools. It strengthens society and shapes the future workforce, as we rise to promote our human capital.
Therefore, all actionable interventions should be grounded in research-based practices, educational science, and socio-emotional awareness.
- Ensure direct and meaningful access for all participants.
- Continuously check for understanding and adjust instruction accordingly.
- Create structured opportunities for success through scaffolding.
Defining School Culture
Administrators must critically examine school culture, while also considering how their decisions influence safety, digital practices, and institutional accountability. Feelings of isolation or being treated as an afterthought can lead to frustration and even despair for students and adults. Some disciplinary practices remove hope instead of restoring it – a cycle that rarely produces success. This is a waste of human capital for all involved.
Even adults who share their well-considered opinions can be marginalized and left to face issues by themselves. We cannot move forward without listening to both professional insights and student perspectives. Even simple questions deserve thoughtful responses. Solutions should focus on rehabilitation and long-term growth, rather than punitive approaches that treat either students or colleagues as adversaries.
- Offer equitable opportunities, recognition, and rewards for students and staff.
- Ensure timely administrative support for challenging situations.
- Support success across the board, for every individual within the school system.
Constitutional and Statutory Obligations
In the United States, public school students are entitled to a free education, regardless of race, special needs, or other defining characteristics. Beyond this, legal protections help to support diverse learning needs. However, challenges still arise. For instance, students may be assigned by staff, or choose on their own, to take positions that conflict with their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Learning Plans, which undermine their ability to succeed.
Such oversights can lead to violations of best practices and even legal consequences. When these needs are unmet, the cost is both immediate and long-term, affecting students, families, and institutions alike.
- Provide comprehensive training for staff on educational law and its purpose.
- Evaluate classroom layouts to ensure equity and accessibility.
- Implement necessary adjustments without delay.
Why It Matters
If you attended public school, you may recognize yourself in these experiences. As an employer, you may encounter individuals whose success reflects the intentional efforts of educators who invested in them. Educators hold the authority, knowledge, and responsibility to shape future professionals. When education is approached through a human-centered, resource-driven lens, it becomes a true win-win, benefiting individuals and society alike.
- Provide clear direction for tasks and expectations.
- Foster values such as character, dependability, and academic pride.
- Use responsive support systems to deliver effective interventions for student and staff needs.
Education Theory
All stakeholders share responsibility for student growth. However, some educators dismiss established theories, claiming they are ineffective. Others argue that a single teaching method can work for all students year-round, an approach overlooking individual differences. Such thinking can limit innovation and hinder meaningful engagement. Even in most settings, negative remarks like “What is your problem?” or repeated punitive practices such as removing recess can damage learning environments.
More effective approaches include:
- Encouraging faculty to study district-approved theories and best practices.
- Collaborating on research-based, positive intervention strategies.
- Establishing peer support systems, such as “buddy teachers.”
More of the Good, Better, Best
Schools already possess the tools needed to strengthen human capital of students and staff. Trusted, actionable solutions have been presented for professional collaboration to enhance implementation, elevating the quality of the school workplace. Growth may not always be immediate, but it is possible. Over time, education has taught us lessons about human development, empathy, and shared progress.
Our future in community depends entirely on us and the human capital we cultivate through joyful, engaging actions that are rigorous yet accessible.
- Protect and enhance teacher planning time.
- Incorporate hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.
- Replace blame and criticism with encouragement and positivity.
