Higher Ground a Resource Center

04/08/2026

Most student behavior isn’t defiance, instead, it’s a skill gap.

We’re asking students to:

- focus
- regulate
- transition
- manage frustration
- stay engaged

But we rarely ask:
Have they actually learned how to do those things?

So when students struggle, we respond with consequences, some sort of SEL curriculum, or one more program. But we aren’t addressing the root cause which are the underlying skills they’re missing.

This is where most systems break down.

What looks like behavior is often a gap in how students process, regulate, and function.

We break this down step-by-step inside our learning community. ⬇️
https://www.skool.com/insiderealschoolchange/about

04/03/2026

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑨𝑽𝑰𝑶𝑹 𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑻𝒀 𝑰𝑺 𝑸𝑼𝑰𝑬𝑻𝑳𝒀 𝑫𝑹𝑰𝑽𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑩𝑼𝑹𝑵𝑶𝑼𝑻 𝑰𝑵 𝑬𝑫𝑼𝑪𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵.

We’ve told teachers they’re responsible for everything. From complex student behaviors, to driving attendance, to improving academic outcomes, and sometimes even things outside the classroom.

Then we wonder why they’re exhausted.
Teachers aren’t burning out because they don’t care.
They’re burning out because they’re being asked to carry what the system was never designed to support.

We’re calling it burnout.
But it’s a system breaking down.
Teachers aren’t superheroes.

Our CEO, Jansen Azarias-Suzumoto, wrote about this a few years ago and still just as relevant today.

Read the full article here:
https://www.higherground.me/our-blog/superheroes-and-savior-mentality-compassion-fatigue-is-serious-in-education

03/31/2026

By the time a student is labeled disruptive or chronically absent, we’ve already missed multiple warning signs. Signs that our teachers are expected to catch and resolve with programs that are one more thing.

But these aren’t separate issues that can be addressed with separate solutions. Instead, they are the same breakdown showing up over time.

And when that breakdown isn’t addressed, it doesn’t just affect students. It shows up in culture, performance, and teachers leaving the field.

If we keep trying to fix attendance, behavior, and teacher burn out as separate problems, we won’t get anywhere. These are all signals of a system that isn’t supporting student capacity.

If this feels familiar, there’s a reason. And we break it all down in our online learning community. https://www.skool.com/insiderealschoolchange/about

03/27/2026

Educator burnout is a systems issue... but it doesn't have to be.

Arizona's latest data confirms that more than 8,600 educators left the classroom last year.

If we want retention, we must redesign support structures, not just recruit replacements.

At Higher Ground, we’ve been writing and speaking about compassion fatigue and the savior mentality long before this report.

Supporting educators and students with proven skills-based solutions have shown reduction in educator burnout & retention, student behaviors, and chronic absenteeism.

See how our online professional development community can help below. ⬇️
www.skool.com/insiderealschoolchange

Check out our blog that discusses savior mentality and compassion fatigue in education, below. ⬇️
https://www.higherground.me/our-blog/superheroes-and-savior-mentality-compassion-fatigue-is-serious-in-education

03/23/2026

Students don’t disengage all at once. Instead they slowly disconnect.
𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨.
𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨.
𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙨.

By the time we respond, we’re reacting to the outcome and not the cause.

Chronic absenteeism isn’t just about showing up. Behavior isn’t just about discipline.

They’re signals that students are struggling to function in systems that aren’t built for how they learn, regulate, and engage.

And when that gap isn’t addressed, it shows up everywhere.

Wᴇ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ sʜᴏʀᴛ PDF ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪɴ 5 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs, ʟɪɴᴋ ʙᴇʟᴏᴡ. ⬇️
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64d15c3be51b6177cdd8b7b9/t/697113eae16647652be3efe1/1769018346258/Condensed+Ebook+-+Executive+Function+Reset+-+Final+Draft.pdf

03/12/2026

Today Higher Ground lost a pillar, Sensei Steve Owen. Far beyond our loss, the world of judo has lost one of its most passionate warrior, one who dedicated his life not only to advancing judo, but to bringing the spirit of judo to the community he was a part of. He impacted thousands of people by giving his life to the art he loved so much. He fought against anything that made judo inaccessible or made judo less than what it was supposed to be - a life changing community where everyone can belong. For 14 years, he coached us and brought judo wherever Higher Ground was at. Thank you sensei. You'll be missed beyond words.

03/06/2026

What happens when schools are supported by strong community partnerships?

Attendance improves.
Behavior stabilizes.
Families engage.
Students thrive.

Higher Ground’s CEO recently published a thought leadership article highlighting how the 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 is transforming outcomes for students across Arizona and why coordinated systems of support are essential for lasting change.

The article also shares the story of 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙮 𝙇. 𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙭 and how collaboration between educators, families, and community partners is creating real impact.

Read the full article here:
https://www.communityschools.org/news/proof-in-practice-community-schools-are-delivering-results-in-arizona/

Community Schools Tagline

02/11/2026

Our partners say it best. Don't just take our word for it. Hear directly from the educators we partner with. Real voices. Real impact. Programs that work.

Interested in partnering with us? Let’s talk about what works for your school.

02/11/2026

At Percy L. Julian School, last week's school showcase also inspired the community to continue their education while understanding the resources that support their amazing educators.

As we continue implementing our Restart SMART strategy at Julian, what stood out most was how fully the school is embracing the community school model as a way of being.

Together with Principal Aimee Marques and the Julian team, this year’s showcase highlighted the full ecosystem surrounding students and families. After-school supports like circus, music, arts, and substance-use prevention were on display alongside a strong future-pathways focus.

High schools joined us. South Mountain Community College and its construction and trades programs showed students, and even parents, what learning and opportunity beyond K–8 can look like. Some families explored college options for themselves.

This is what a community school looks like in practice: educators, partners, students, and families seeing possibility together.

02/04/2026

Have you heard? We’ve officially launched our online learning platform to support educators, leaders, and community partners who are ready to move from insight to implementation.

We look forward to learning alongside those doing the work.

Explore the community and resources, below 👇 & enroll today.
https://www.skool.com/insiderealschoolchange/about

01/29/2026

Last week, Percy L. Julian School was highlighted at Roosevelt School District’s School Connect CAFE as an example of what strong, integrated partnerships can look like in practice.

Principal Aimee Marques and Higher Ground shared together the ongoing partnership between Julian and Higher Ground, and how the Restart SMART approach brings academic supports, non-academic needs, and community resources into alignment so students and families in South Phoenix are supported more holistically.

Grateful for the collaboration and the shared commitment to doing this work well, together.