Present for the Future: Tyron’s Advocacy Project

Across Alabama, student advocates from the A+ Student VOICES Team (SVT) are stepping up to address some of the most pressing issues in education. Among them is Tyron Rhodes, a passionate advocate from Citronelle High School, who launched a powerful initiative focused on tackling chronic absenteeism—an issue affecting student achievement, classroom stability, and school culture. 

Recognizing the long-term impact of missed instructional time, Tyron developed a comprehensive project to reduce chronic absenteeism by rethinking how schools support students. With a thoughtful, student-centered approach, this initiative addressed both policy and people, meeting students where they are while building a stronger culture of accountability and care. 

Working closely with school administrators, Tyron played a great role in streamlining the attendance policy at Citronelle High School to make it more clear, compassionate, and enforceable. In addition to policy reform, Tyron helped support the school’s efforts in identifying at-risk students before they fall too far behind. This system was designed to connect students with essential support like academic assistance, mental health services, and more. 

Understanding the importance of community and family involvement, Tyron also organized a Title I parent workshop to raise awareness about how chronic absenteeism impacts student success. By involving all stakeholders, his project ensured that no student or parent felt alone in facing those challenges.

His project sparked important conversations around how schools track, understand, and address student attendance. Tyron hopes to see a measurable drop in chronic absenteeism, along with a rise in student engagement, and a stronger sense of connection across the school community. 

Tyron’s advocacy reminds us that real change starts with listening, acting, and believing in better outcomes for every student. His work is a powerful example of youth leadership and the difference one student can make.