Huskie Howler
August 24, 2026
Dear Huskie Community,
We believe our shared goal is for school staff to partner with parents to build student problem-solving skills and readiness for postsecondary independence. Occasionally in the Howler, I will address our shared responsibility to build these important skills. The importance of a collaborative partnership between students, schools, and parents is rooted in shifting a student’s mindset from passive dependence to active ownership before they reach the higher-stakes environment of postsecondary life.
A consistent ecosystem of independence is created when both parents and school staff adopt similar supportive frameworks:
Staff as Coaches: When school staff shift from "Fixers" to "Coaches," they scaffold support rather than solving obstacles for the student, using tools like open-ended questions (e.g., "What do you think your next step should be?") to facilitate metacognition.
Parents as Consultants: Moving from a "Manager" who fixes problems to a "Consultant" who offers help but doesn't force it, builds a child’s self-confidence and resilience.
Students as Owners: This dual support allows students to move toward active ownership of their learning and logistics, such as drafting their own emails to teachers or managing their own deadlines.
Here is a common scenario of how this may play out: When a student realizes at the start of the school day that a vital item was left at home.
The Student’s Ownership: The student accepts the natural consequence (such as a grade deduction or sitting out of practice) and then analyzes their morning routine to identify where the "miss" happened. They might set a new phone alert or use a visual checklist by the door for the future.
The Staff’s Coaching: Instead of providing an immediate loaner or printing a new copy, the staff member asks: "What is your plan to ensure you have this tomorrow?". They offer resources only after the student has identified the specific gap in their routine.
The Parent’s Consulting: Explaining "I love you too much to rescue you", the parent stays home and says: "I know it’s miserable to go without your item today, but dealing with the consequences is how your brain learns to remember it tomorrow. How are you going to handle things with your teachers/coaches/sponsors today?".
We appreciate the partnership. Go Huskies!!
Sincerely,
Jay Wachtel