As we gear up to head back to school, we pause to think about the millions of students who fell between the cracks during the pandemic and did not return.  How do we find them, support them and engage them this school year?

Follow on Twitter: @ShantelMeek @ChildrensEquity @KarenDSouza4  @Eklundteaches @DrRachaelGeorge @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Shantel E. Meek is a professor of practice and the founding director of the Children's Equity Project (CEP) at Arizona State University. She manages strategic partnerships with CEP partners at 16 universities and non-profit organizations, policymakers, and national organizations, and sets the strategic direction of the CEP. Dr. Meek previously served as a consultant in early childhood policy and strategy at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington D.C. where she advised senior staff on a range of federal and state equity and early childhood policy issues. Prior to founding the CEP, Dr. Meek served in the Obama Administration as a Senior Policy Advisor for Early Childhood Development at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and as Senior Policy Advisor for Education in the Domestic Policy Council at the White House. Dr. Meek holds a B.A. i n Psychology and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University.

Karen D'Souza covers arts education, literacy, and early education. She is an award-winning writer who comes to EdSource after covering lifestyle, parenting, health, housing, education and the arts for the San Jose Mercury News. She is a four-time Pulitzer juror and her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle and Seattle Times. She has an MA in journalism and a BA in political science and dramatic art from UC Berkeley.

Wendy Kiang-Spray is a Pupil Personnel Worker in Montgomery County, Maryland. She is proud to support students and families by removing barriers and providing access to school and community resources. The best part of her job is building relationships with families.

Abbie Eklund is an educator with twenty years experience in the field, including roles as a classroom teacher, district based teacher leader, and school administrator. She currently serves as an elementary school principal in Elgin (IL) School District U-46.