Dominique Smith, EdD, is an award-winning educator, author, and school leader who has dedicated two decades to transforming schools into inclusive, safe, and empowering spaces for students and educators alike. He currently serves as Principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College in San Diego, California. Dominique earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California. A passionate advocate for belonging, restorative practices, and leadership development, Dr. Smith has co-authored several influential books, including Belonging in School: Creating a Place Where Kids Want to Learn and Teachers Want to Stay; Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management; Building Equity: Policies and Practices to Empower All Learners; Leader Credibility; How Leadership Works: A Playbook for Instructional Leaders; and The Restorative Practices Playbook. Through his leadership, writing, and speaking, Dr. Smith continues to champion the belief that when students feel seen, heard, and valued, they are empowered to thrive-both academically and personally. His work challenges schools to move beyond compliance and discipline toward cultures of belonging, accountability, and restorative growth. Douglas Fisher is professor and chair of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Previously, Fisher was an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. In 2022, he was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame by the Literacy Research Association. He has published numerous articles on reading and literacy, differentiated instruction, and curriculum design, as well as books such as Your Introduction to PLC+, Welcome to Teaching, How Feedback Works, Teaching Reading, and RIGOR Unveiled. Fisher loves being an educator and hopes to share that passion with others. Nancy Frey is a professor in educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Her published titles include The Courage to Learn, The Art and Science of Coaching, How Scaffolding Works, and The Illustrated Guide to Visible Learning. Frey is a credentialed special educator, reading specialist, and administrator in California and learns from teachers and students every day.
Create classrooms where every student knows they belong Belonging is an instinctual feeling that serves as the ultimate gatekeeper for learning. There's a difference between fitting in and belonging, and the cost of energy expended to "fit in" comes at the cost of disconnection. As an educator, you know the struggle of trying to reach students who feel unseen or undervalued. This updated, easy-to-use playbook tackles this urgent challenge by exploring the 11 dimensions of belonging. Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher, and Nancy Frey guide you through crafting inclusive environments where students can safely bring their whole, authentic selves to the classroom every single day. Readers will find: Detailed, updated research on the 11 dimensions of belonging, paired with a highly visual, illustrated style to promote comprehension Evidence-based actions in every module to help you foster connection, perfectly balanced for both elementary and secondary levels New Belonging Moves that highlight immediate, actionable strategies and key takeaways you can try out with your learners right away Interactive features like Essential Questions, Case in Point examples, and reflective prompts to deeply engage your teaching practice Uncover the strategies you need to build a truly welcoming school culture. When you make room for every student, you'll see them grow both personally and academically.
Introduction Overview: Dimensions of Belonging Module 1: Welcomed Module 2: Invited Module 3: Present Module 4: Accepted Module 5: Known Module 6: Supported Module 7: Befriended Module 8: Involved Module 9: Heard Module 10: Needed Module 11: Loved Epilogue: Where Do We Go From Here?