SHOWING UP IS “THE GOLDEN TICKET”
ADDRESSING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM
Chronic absenteeism. It sounds clinical, but the reality is devastating: across the 60 schools that Adopt A Class serves, 1 in 3 students are chronically absent. That means missing two days of school each month, 18 days a year, almost an entire month of learning lost.
The consequences ripple. Children chronically absent before third grade are far less likely to read on grade level. By sixth grade, they are four times more likely not to graduate high school.
This is an epidemic we can’t ignore.
But there is hope—and it lies in something deceptively simple. The golden ticket is to show up.
Every time a mentor says, “It’s great to see you today” or “I can’t wait to see you next month,” it models consistency and care. It teaches students one of the most important life skills before they ever enter the workforce: show up, be on time, and keep showing up.
Of course, mentors can’t solve every challenge students face, but they can encourage. And sometimes that encouragement makes all the difference. A child may urge a parent, “Can Auntie take us? I don’t want to miss today.” Because when they know someone is waiting for them, they’re more likely to be there.
Mentorship also offers more than attendance. It introduces students to the language of strengths, teaches philanthropy in its truest form (giving time, not just dollars), and creates connections that teachers say echo long after the hour ends.
To mentors, it may feel like one hour a month. To students, it’s proof that someone cares enough to show up. And that can change everything.
Be the reason a child shows up. Just Say YES to mentorship
About Sonya Fultz: Sonya Fultz serves as Chief Executive Officer of Adopt A Class, where she leads with a deep passion for connecting students with mentors who can inspire their future. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded its reach across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, creating more opportunities for students to discover career paths and life skills. Recognized as Executive of the Year and honored with the Medical Mutual Pillar Award, Sonya is driven by the belief that every student deserves someone to show up for them and the chance to imagine what’s possible.