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I stood in my kitchen, papers spread across the table, my child close to tears. The work was complete. Thoughtful. Careful. Done with intention. What was missing was a staple. Points were going to be taken off. Not for misunderstanding. Not for lack of effort. Not for gaps in learning. For a missing piece of metal. Our stapler had run out of staples, and I couldn't find a box of replacements. In that moment, I felt something shift, not as an educator, but as a parent. knew

There was a middle school student who struggled deeply with executive functioning. Not ability, not intelligence, but organization, follow-through, and managing materials. A team of caring teachers stepped in as a coordinated support system. They helped the student track assignments, gather needed materials, and use time intentionally so work didn’t disappear into the backpack void. One of those teachers also saw the student later in the day during study hall. Rather than let