Name: Belonging as a Leadership Strategy for Today’s Schools
Start: 2026-03-05T14:00:00ZEST
End: 2026-03-05T15:00:00ZEST

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Belonging isn’t a slogan—it’s a leadership strategy. Research consistently links a strong sense of belonging to higher student attendance, stronger engagement, and improved academic outcomes. In this conversation, Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, a successful turnaround principal, board member, and education CEO, and Terrell Strayhorn, Ph.D., a leading researcher on belonging, connect the data with what actually works in schools. Moderated by Nick Yoder, Ph.D. of Harmony Academy, the discussion centers on concrete, school-tested actions leaders can take to strengthen culture and performance.

For today’s school leaders, culture is no longer separate from performance—it is a core driver of attendance, retention, and learning. The conversation draws on lessons from Harmony Academy’s Belonging Together work, highlighting how administrators are applying research-backed approaches to build stronger school cultures, support staff retention, and improve student outcomes.

Terrell Strayhorn, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology and Education and Dean of Education at Virginia Union University, President/CEO of Do Good Work Consulting

Brandon Cardet-Hernandez

Founder & CEO, Medley Learning

Nick Yoder, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President, Harmony Academy, National University

Dr. Yoder leads and manages the team that supports four core areas: research, policy, content, and professional learning—each with an equity lens. With a career in education spanning two decades, Dr. Yoder’s expertise in integrating social, emotional, and academic development into educational policy and practice has been pivotal. Prior to Harmony, Dr. Yoder was the Director of Policy and Practice at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

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Belonging as a Leadership Strategy for Today’s Schools

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