Jayne Demsky is the founder of the School Avoidance Alliance and a leading advocate for families struggling with the complex and often misunderstood challenge of school avoidance. Her journey into this work was not one of academic study or professional aspiration but of deep personal struggle—years spent watching her son battle chronic school avoidance, feeling helpless as resources and support were painfully scarce. During those difficult years, the weight of fear, frustration, and isolation was overwhelming. Friends and family didn’t understand the reality of school avoidance—why a bright, capable child simply couldn’t walk through the doors of a classroom. The lack of awareness made it even harder to share, leaving Jayne’s family to navigate the crisis largely alone. Determined to change the narrative, Jayne founded the School Avoidance Alliance in 2014. What began as an effort to find guidance and answers for her own child quickly evolved into a national movement—one that fills a critical gap in education, advocacy, and professional development. Through the School Avoidance Alliance, she has empowered countless families and school districts with best practices and evidence-based solutions, so that no parent or child feels the same isolation she once did. Today, the School Avoidance Alliance is the premier resource for professional development in school avoidance across the United States. Their flagship course, "Everything You Need to Know to Get Your Students Back to School," has transformed the approach of school districts nationwide. The parent-focused School Avoidance Master Class has educated and supported families, improving outcomes for students caught in the cycle of avoidance. Jayne has reshaped conversations in education, mental health, and youth advocacy, sharing her expertise with educators, clinicians, truancy prevention experts, and juvenile justice professionals. She has been a featured speaker at the International Network for School Attendance and has presented at numerous conferences, advocating for a more empathetic and informed approach to school avoidance. As a founding member of Attendance USA, she remains committed to raising awareness, promoting education to school professionals, and advocating for families facing these challenges. Her leadership and the School Avoidance Alliance’s impact have garnered national attention, with features in USA Today, Education Week, The Washington Post, EdSurge, ADDitude Magazine, AttendanceWorks, Fox News, Good Morning Arizona, and CBS News. What began as a personal struggle has become a lifeline for families across the country—proof that no one should have to navigate school avoidance alone.