Level 1 — Early Concern
First Faces Empathy Interview Record
Plan, conduct, and learn from empathy interviews when the barrier looks like belief, trust, welcome, or understanding — before deciding a student or family simply doesn't value attendance. (RAISE Practice 3b · First Faces)
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Interview details
Before the interview: prepare
Choose the students and families whose attendance story you understand least.
Ground rules
- Identify 3–6 students and families to hear from — not just the loudest cases.
- The interview is voluntary and the student is never in trouble.
- Ask open questions; do not lead toward what you assume the answer is.
- Take detailed notes and record their words where possible.
- This is about the conditions we create, not their character — listen for what we control.
Student interview questions (grades 5–12)
Adapt the wording to the student's age. Start broad, follow their lead.
Questions
- “Tell me about the last time someone at school made you feel welcomed.”
- “Walk me through coming to school today — who was the first adult you saw?”
- “Walk me through coming back after you were absent. What did that feel like?”
- “Think about the last time you came in late. What happened when you walked in?”
- “What is it like to go through the office, the bus, or the building in the morning?”
- “Who or where feels friendly to you at school? Who or where doesn't?”
Family interview questions
Questions
- “Tell me about the last time someone at school made you feel welcomed.”
- “Walk me through your last visit to the school. What was that like?”
- “What happened the last time your child returned after an absence?”
- “Tell me about your last experience with the front office.”
- “When was the last time you heard from the school, and what was that contact like?”
- “Is there a person or place at school that feels friendly to you or your child?”
After the interview: analyze
Cluster what you heard into themes about welcome, trust, access, and how the attendance message lands.
If yes, treat this as a school-system barrier and adjust the First Faces routine — not as a student or family problem.
The First Faces change we will test
One change adults can actually deliver, tested for 10 instructional days.