Purposeful Educator Connections : Five Principles to Strengthen Relationships with Students

Winner of the 2025 International Book Award (IBA) for Education! Deepen relationships with students, stay connected to your purpose, and improve classroom culture with this inspiring book. Author Marcela Andrés offers five key principles to unlock connections with students, know your why, understand context beyond compliance, foster meaningful interactions, design high-quality learning environments, and partner with key stakeholders. For each principle, she provides high-leverage practices and strategies you can implement, a case study to crystalize the concept, and reflection questions to apply to your practice. The book ends with a reminder to put your own oxygen mask on first, and a reminder of the power of human connection and the legacy you will create. Now more than ever, we need educators to do what they do best and help shape the next generation of leaders who can change our future. This powerful book will remind you of your special ability to connect with students and have a direct impact on their life’s outcomes.