In today’s schools, students face many challenges–academic pressure, mental health struggles, and the social expectations of growing up. With all this, one of the most overlooked yet important aspects of students’ success and well-being is the connection students have with the adults in their schools. Whether it is a teacher, counselor, coach or other trusted staff member, these relationships can make all the difference in creating a safe, supportive, and most important positive learning space. Student-staff connections help create a sense of belonging, reduce anxiety, and increase motivation. These relationships are so important and schools should do more to encourage and strengthen them. In this paper, I argue that building strong connections between students and school staff is important for creating a supportive and comfortable school environment. It ensures that students have trusted adults to turn to, which contributes to a healthier school community.
Research shows that strong relationships between students and school staff can have very significant impacts on students’ academic success along with their emotional well-being. According to Guzzardo et al. in their article “The ones that care make all the difference,” students who face challenges, which here are some examples, financial hardships or personal struggles they often benefit the most from these supportive faculty relationships. With teachers who can create welcoming classrooms, provide mentorship, and always remain engaged they can help reduce barriers for students who are struggling and provide the motivation to continue on. These relationships contribute to such a higher level of a sense of belonging to these students, which plays an important role in students retention and performance.
Similarly, Kiptiony’s article on positive psychology interventions emphasizes the importance of intentional efforts to improve student-staff relationships. These interventions which are solely focused on concepts such as gratitude, mindfulness, and empathy are shown to boost trust and collaboration within school communities. When there is strong trust between teachers and students, communication and teamwork improve, which then creates a more positive school atmosphere. According to Kiptiony, this collaborative environment strengthens students’ well-being, engagement, and academic performance, making schools a place where both students and staff can grow and strive together.
In the article “Trust in Schools: A Core Resource for School Reform” it goes through and shows a deeper understanding of the importance of trust in schools is shown in the work from Bryk and Schneider, who studied 400 Chicago elementary schools. Their research found that trust within teachers, principals, and parents plays an important role in school reform and student achievement. They came to the conclusion that trust grows through consistent, respectful, and honest daily interactions. Schools with high levels of trust experienced better student performance in reading and math and were overall more successful at applying changes. This does reinforce the idea that relationships are not just a “nice to have”- they really are foundational for school success.
The sense of belonging that results from these relationships is also very crucial. According to Dr. DeLeon Gray, an educational psychology professor, students are more likely to succeed when they feel accepted, respected, and seen. In the article “Why is it important for students to feel a sense of belonging at school?” Gray explains that when students feel like they belong, they are more engaged, motivated, and mentally present. Teachers can build this sense of belonging by incorporating students’ cultures and interests into lessons, and by creating an inclusive classroom culture. With this emotional connection it can reduce the rates of students who drop out and increase school attendance, especially for marginalized students (Bowen).
The importance of these relationships has become even more obvious in all of the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students have experienced trauma, isolation, and anxiety, which made school feel even more overwhelming. The EdTrust article “The Importance of Strong Relationships Between Teachers & Students” really points out that trusted teacher-student relationships can help students recover from these negative experiences. When students know that a teacher genuinely cares about them, they are more likely to stay motivated, improve their behavior, and develop even stronger social skills. However along with this many students, especially those who may have low-income backgrounds, lack these important connections. These school communities must work harder to prioritize building strong relationships as a fundamental part of students’ education.
Another major issue that trusted relationships can help with is school avoidance. In the article “When School Anxiety Becomes School Avoidance,” doctors from Columbia University explain that many students suffer from such intense anxiety about school that they tend to stay home regularly. This isn’t about skipping class for fun–it’s often from fear, bullying, or academic pressure. A lot of these students may experience physical symptoms like stomach aches or headaches due to stress. The article explains that the best way to support these students is through trusted teams of teachers, counselors, and parents who listen, give structure, and most importantly provide emotional support. Overall this shows how important it is that trusted adults can help students feel safe and most of all willing to come to school.
To bring a personal and local perspective into this discussion, I interviewed Mrs. Cherise Potenti, a guidance counselor at South High Community School. She shared some of her many firsthand experiences with the positive impact of student-staff relationships. When asked about the importance of these connections, she said, “When students feel safe and cared about, they are more likely to be engaged in the classroom. They are also more likely to have respect for their teachers. It fosters a positive learning environment. Having someone they trust in school can help them feel like they belong there and are valued.” Mrs. Potenti emphasized that when students know there is someone at school who genuinely cares about them, it encourages them to participate more actively, take academic risks, and persevere through challenges. She also shared that her relationships with students have sometimes prevented them from self-harming, showing how life changing these connections can be. The trust she builds with students often becomes a critical support system during their most vulnerable moments, showing that these bonds go far beyond academics. Her perspectives, grounded in real life experiences, supports the broader research findings and demonstrates just how important and essential trusted adults are in schools for the overall well being of students.
My research was inspired by my own experience with the guidance department at South High. Having a trusted adult to talk to made school feel like a safer and more welcoming place for me. It gave me a sense of belonging, and made me more motivated to show up and do well. This led me to wonder- do other students feel the same way? Do they also have staff members they trust and feel supported by? I began to look into this question and found that I’m not alone in thinking these things matter. In addition to talking with school staff, I also interviewed Sophia Leong, a student. She explained, “Yes, I definitely believe it’s important for students to have a connection. When students feel like they can trust and talk to at least one adult at school, it creates a more positive and supportive environment.” Sophia shared that having a trusted adult to turn to made her feel less isolated and more motivated to attend school each day. She emphasized that these connections help reduce the stigma around asking for help, which shows vulnerability is not a weakness but a strength when students know they are supported. With her perspective it provides valuable insight into how these relationships impact students personally. For Sophia, having someone at school who cares not just about her grades but about her as a person makes all the difference in how she experiences school. It changes school from being just an obligation into a place where she feels valued and respected.
From research studies to personal interviews, the evidence is pretty clear: trusted student-staff relationships create schools where students feel safe, seen, and supported. These connections build a strong foundation for better learning, stronger mental health, and a more inclusive school community. Students who have strong, supportive relationships with staff are more likely to stay engaged academically, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and build confidence in themselves. Moving forward, schools should prioritize relationship building by offering training for teachers on how to form meaningful connections with their students, encouraging mentoring programs that pair students with adults they trust, and creating opportunities for students and staff to connect in other activities such as clubs, sports, and more. With these small actions they can lead to a lot of important changes within students’ lives, giving environments where the importance of academics and emotional well-being are equal.
In a world where students face constant pressure and uncertainty, the pressure of a trusted adult at school can be so important. It can be the reason a student chooses to keep coming to class, opens up about their personal struggles, or feels like they belong when everything else feels overwhelming. Trusted relationships can act as anchors, providing stability in a world that feels like there is no escape. These relationships provide the emotional safety that many students silently crave but may not always know exactly how to ask for. Schools that really dive into these relationships will create an environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive, not only academically, but personally and emotionally too. Overall, creating these bonds is one of the most important and powerful steps a school community can take to make sure that the long-term success and happiness of its students.
