A PARTNERSHIP FOR ATTENDANCE IMPROVEMENT & AWARENESS

Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty

Founder

The journey to establishing Attendance USA was never certain. It began a few months after the launch of the International Network for School Attendance (INSA) in 2018. As a co-founder and one of the visionaries behind INSA, I was frequently asked, “What is the U.S. doing?” U.S. partners attending our conferences around the world, in countries like Norway, Australia, and the Netherlands inquired about forming a U.S. chapter.

Now, with nearly 20 country chapters established globally in places like France, Ireland, and Denmark, I felt it was time. The urgency grew after INSA held its first international conference in New Orleans in October 2024, where U.S. based stakeholders strongly advocated for a national chapter.
Later that same year, encouraged by my colleagues such as James Taylor, Sharon Bradley, Patricia Graczyk, and Shelneka Adams Marsalone, and inspired by conversations with Hedy Chang, I embarked on the journey to officially establish Attendance USA.

Founding Members

JAMES TAYLOR

Student Services Director and Adjunct Professor, IN

CATHERINE FALCONER

Deputy Director of Health Equity and Inclusion, MD

KEITH LELEUX

Executive Director, IATDP Lake Charles, LA

ELLIOTT ATTISHA

SSW CE Instructor, MI

JAMES BROWN

Associate Professor Bloomington, IN

JOSHUA CHILDS

Associate Professor of Educational Leadership & Policy, Univ of Texas, TX

SALVATORE BIRARDI

District Attendance Coordinator for NYCDOE District 30 Merrick, NY

BRANDY MAYNARD

Professor, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Univ of St Louis, MO

ARYA ANSARI

Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University, OH

JAYNE DEMSKY

Founder, School Avoidance Alliance, NJ

CLEA MCNEELY

Research Professor Knoxville, TN

SHARON BRADLEY

Founder,RestorativeFlo Educational Solutions Dallas, TX

SHELNEKA ADAMS-MARSALONE

Child Welfare and Attendance Avenger Baton Rouge, LA

PATRICIA GRACZYK

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology Chicago, IL

KEVIN GEE

Professor and Chancellor’s Fellow Davis, CA

AMBER HUMM PATNODE

Acting Director, Proving Ground Boston, MA

ANNE MARIE ALBANO

Child and Adolescent Psychology New York, NY

KARI VOGELGESANG, PHD

Director of Professional Development, Scanlon Center, IA

FRANCIS BOWEN, PHD

Researcher Indianapolis, IN

SUE ANNIE RODRIGUEZ

Project Manager Senior, The Sanford School Tempe, AZ

MARLIN JACKSON

Social Entrepreneur Noblesville, IN

DEVON JONES

Chief Behavioral Health and Addictions Officer Indianapolis, IN

JUDGE NATION

County Council Member At-Large Noblesville, IN

JEREMY SINGER

Detroit, Michigan

PATRICK HICKMAN

Ohio’s Attendance Advisor Office of whole child supports Columbus, Ohio

KIM GRAHAM

EmpowerED Families Director of Organizing and Partnerships Indianapolis, IN

TABITHA JACKSON

Family Engagement Liaison District Facilitator | MSD Warren Township Indianapolis, IN