November is National Homelessness Awareness Month, and at Eastway Elementary in East Durham, homelessness is an everyday reality for some students. Principal Jackaline Teel, Ed.D., spoke with The Durham Voice about how the school supports students’ basic needs, learning and emotional well-being – and why community awareness is key.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. 

 

The Durham Voice: How many students at Eastway Elementary are currently identified as experiencing homelessness or housing instability?

Jackaline Teel: Over the past few years, it has changed. Right now, we can identify approximately 20 families, and that’s low for us. After Durham went through redistricting the year before last, we had the area shelters: Durham Rescue Mission, Families Moving Forward and some families in transitional housing. Historically, about a quarter of our student population has had some type of homelessness or shelter experience. We have a lot of experience working with that population.

The Durham Voice: How do you identify a student who may be experiencing homelessness? How is the staff trained to recognize these signs?

Teel: It can be multiple things. Some families are already identified; if they’re living in one of the neighboring shelters, we already know that. But a huge component comes from the relationships we build. Families don’t always want to disclose, so we work with our front office staff to form good relationships.

We look for students coming in consistently tired, hungry, or emotionally overwhelmed. We teach teachers to notice these signs. We don’t ask families directly but make referrals to our social worker, who is skilled at building trust and helping parents feel comfortable disclosing their situation.

Sometimes families come to us and say, “I’m living with a friend,” “I lost my housing,” or that they’re living in their car. Often it’s because we’ve been attentive to those signs and built relationships that allow us to find out if someone is homeless.

TDV: What support does your school currently offer? and do you think they’ve been effective from your perspective?

Teel: We do this for all students because not being homeless doesn’t mean there isn’t a need. We have a closet of clothes, a washer and dryer and we’ve provided food when needed. We also have a backpack program with community partners to send food home on weekends.

Our counselors provide support, and classroom teachers build time into the day for additional help. Morning meetings help students feel part of the community and allow us to identify emotional needs. Our social worker and full-time nurse also support students’ emotional and health needs, helping with medical documentation when families are unhoused.

We always keep food on hand. If a student misses breakfast or didn’t eat enough the night before, we provide something immediately. Working with this population teaches you to provide dignity. Sometimes the front office helps students fix their hair so they feel comfortable around peers, which is essential for focusing on learning. We aim to be empathetic, provide necessary support and maintain confidentiality so students feel welcomed.

We also provide after-school camps, tutoring and intersession tutoring. Even though Eastway is a year-round school, we offer a year-round camp for our students and others who qualify for McKinney-Vento services. These programs improve both academic performance and social-emotional growth.

TDV: Are teachers reporting any noticeable effects on student attendance or classroom engagement?

Teel: Absolutely. Students living in shelters tend to have better attendance, but those doubled up with relatives often face challenges. We work with transportation to get them to their preferred school, which helps maintain consistency and improves attendance.

TDV: Are there policies or resources that you wish Durham Public Schools would expand or strengthen?

Teel: I think Durham does a good job letting families know supports exist, but decreased state funding is putting a strain on those resources. My school staff has a skill set that not every school might have, so there’s an opportunity for more training across schools on identifying homelessness and food insecurity as these needs grow. 

TDV: Could you share a moment that illustrates the resilience you’ve seen in students that struggle with housing?

Teel: I think of a student who is homeless but talented in the arts. Her growth, driven by her love of the arts, has been phenomenal. Academics matter, but arts, sports and other programs are just as important. Cutting programs due to financial constraints limits opportunities for students to build resilience. Supporting diverse programs and encouraging participation makes a real difference. The rewards of seeing students thrive always outweigh the challenges.

TDV: Is there anything you think the general public often misunderstands about student homelessness?

Teel: I was really excited about this interview because homelessness isn’t something people think about unless it directly impacts them. Rising housing costs make it more likely, and many affected families have children required to attend school, which impacts students. Awareness is key – understanding how to be empathetic, using your voice and voting in local elections all matter because these issues affect every student, no matter where they are educated.