MOUNT VERNON — Knox County will celebrate “Knox Attendance Month” in September.
It is a community-wide initiative built around one simple idea: Showing up matters, in
school, at work, and throughout life.
The Knox County Business Advisory Council created the initiative. It is a Knox ESC group facilitated by the Area Development Foundation (ADF), in partnership with Knox County OhioMeansJobs.
The council brings together all Knox County school district superintendents and local business and workforce leaders. Their goal is to identify ways the community can better prepare students for life after graduation.
Good attendance in school builds habits, reliability, accountability, and responsibility,. Employers consistently name these qualities among the ones they value most in an employee.
Knox Attendance Month makes that connection explicit. Its timing aligns with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s statewide attendance month efforts, tying Knox County’s local campaign to a broader statewide push to reduce chronic absenteeism.
“Every day, Knox County OhioMeansJobs sees how important reliability and dependability are to employers. Good school attendance is one of the earliest ways students begin building the habits that will carry with them into the workplace,” Brandy Booth, workforce development administrator at Knox County OhioMeansJobs, said.
“Showing up consistently, being dependable, and following through are skills employers value in every industry. Through Knox Attendance Month, we have an opportunity to help students make that connection and understand that the choices they make now can have a lasting impact on their future careers.”
Throughout September, the campaign will roll out four weekly themes, each paired with a short video linking school attendance to workforce readiness. Knox County OhioMeansJobs produced the videos. Student interns led production alongside local employers, giving the students a firsthand look at what businesses look for in employees. It also gave other students a chance to hear directly from the people who may one day hire them.
Consistent attendance signals commitment and character
Local employers who contributed to the campaign shared two consistent themes: Attendance records are something businesses often consider when hiring recent graduates, and consistent attendance is one of the clearest early signals of a person’s commitment and character.
For employers, showing up is about more than being physically present. It reflects accountability to the job, respect for teammates, and reliability that lets teams function, customers get served, and businesses succeed.
“At Kokosing, we know that successful projects start with team members who can be counted on,” Michael Higgins, workforce development manager at Kokosing Construction, said.
“Whether it’s in the classroom or on a job site, showing up consistently demonstrates responsibility, commitment, and respect for your team. The habits students build through good attendance today are the same habits that help them succeed in the workforce tomorrow.”
Knox Attendance Month is a collaborative effort of the ADF, Knox County OhioMeansJobs, the Knox ESC, local workforce partners through the Knox WorkDev group, and these participating districts:
● Centerburg Local Schools
● Danville Local Schools
● East Knox Local Schools
● Fredericktown Local Schools
● Mount Vernon City Schools
● Knox County Career Center
● Knox Educational Service Center
“This initiative is a great example of how our community works together to achieve common goals. We know from all our partners that attendance is the most important indicator for current and future success,” Julia Suggs, vice president of Knox ADF and Knox BAC Chair, said.
“Whether you’re a student walking into a classroom, an employee walking into work, or a community member showing up for the people around you, the lesson is the same: showing up matters.”
Community members can follow the Knox County OhioMeansJobs Facebook page throughout September to watch each weekly video and hear directly from local employers. Residents are also encouraged to follow their local school district’s social media pages to see how each district is celebrating Knox Attendance Month.