Attendance isn’t just a number. It’s a signal. District leaders like you know that the key to addressing attendance starts with the people at the heart of it: students and their families.
In Honor of Attendance Awareness Month, Panorama brought together researchers and district leaders for a roundtable conversation on how listening to student and family voices can help schools better understand—and solve—the root causes of absenteeism.
Our panelists explored findings from Panorama’s State of Chronic Absenteeism Report and shared real examples of how districts are using student and family feedback to better engage students, strengthen family-school partnerships, and move the needle on attendance.
You’ll walk away with:
- Insights from national data on chronic absenteeism trends
- Research-backed practices to engage students and families in attendance improvement
- Lessons from districts using student and family feedback to design effective supports
Panelists:
- Stephanie Hullum, MSW, Attendance Coordinator/Behavioral Health Navigator, Racine Unified School District
- Christina Cail-Lewandowski, Director of Assessment & Accountability, Urbana School District #116
- David Kowalski, Senior Researcher, Panorama Education
- Christopher Forst, Professional Learning Director, Panorama Education
- Moderated by: Roger Hedgis-Kligerman, Senior Account Director, Panorama Education
Register to watch now!
Panelists

Christina Cail-Lewandowski
Director of Assessment & Accountability, Urbana School District #116

Stephanie Hullum, MSW
Attendance Coordinator/Behavioral Health Navigator, Racine Unified School District

Christopher Forst
Professional Learning Director, Panorama Education

David Kowalski
Senior Researcher, Panorama Education

Roger Hedgis-Kligerman
Senior Account Director, Panorama Education

Christina Cail-Lewandowski
Director of Assessment & Accountability, Urbana School District #116

Stephanie Hullum, MSW
Attendance Coordinator/Behavioral Health Navigator, Racine Unified School District

Christopher Forst
Professional Learning Director, Panorama Education

David Kowalski
Senior Researcher, Panorama Education

Roger Hedgis-Kligerman
Senior Account Director, Panorama Education

Christina Cail-Lewandowski
Director of Assessment & Accountability, Urbana School District #116
Christina Cail-Lewandowski, Director of Assessment and Accountability for Urbana School District 116, applies a "people-first" approach to integrating tech tools to improve workflows. Her college background includes delivering impactful presentations on educational technology and data at institutions like the University of Illinois, Columbia University, NWEA, and Panorama. She has a keen interest in data and shared accountability, excelling at using data to build environments where all stakeholders take ownership of their outcomes, guided by three principles: "If we illuminate the data, if we understand the data, then if we act upon the data, that is how you change the outcome". Outside of work, she enjoys family time, including attending her son’s basketball games.

Stephanie Hullum, MSW
Attendance Coordinator/Behavioral Health Navigator, Racine Unified School District
Stephanie Hullum is currently a school social worker for the Racine Unified School District where she began in 2010. She received her BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and MSW from Loyola University. Prior to working in the schools, Stephanie worked for a non-profit agency as a community social worker and family therapist. Since working in Racine Unified, Stephanie has experience working at the elementary, middle and high school level and spent the most recent 3 years working as the Attendance Coordinator and Behavioral Health Navigator for the entire district. Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family, camping, ubering her 3 children around town, being a basketball coach wife and cooking.