Who You Know

It's undeniable-personal connections open doors to new opportunities. Often, success hinges on our networks; however, today's schools are not designed to nurture the health of students' networks or to connect students in effective ways beyond their immediate world of teachers, family, and peers. Who You Know explores a fresh paradigm that gives educators and school administrators a model for breaking the pattern of inequality in our classrooms. The authors examine the critical role that relationships play in young people's lives, and show how schools can invest in the power of relationships to increase social mobility for their students. Who You Know contains a review of the latest tools, data, and concrete examples and includes evidence-based guidance for educators and administrators. The book shows how to integrate student support systems that increase access to caring adults and explains why it is important to invest in the learning models that enhance teacher-student relationships. In addition, the authors describe a burgeoning market of technology-enabled platforms that is starting to connect students in new ways. These platforms allow students to access an array of relationships that are otherwise out of reach, and give school leaders the tools to fundamentally disrupt traditional education models that close off, rather than open up, students' networks. Who You Know outlines how relationships can become embedded in every aspect of a student's K-12 experience-not only to enrich learning, but also to nurture connecting.