The Building Blocks for Student Engagement (BBSE) protocol was designed to provide a consistent framework of common language and a visual point of reference shared among students, teachers and school leaders to keep a laser-like focus on the instructional core and student engagement. Grounded in brain-based learning and implemented in urban, suburban, and rural districts, this pilot study sought to investigate to what extent students, teachers, and school leaders perceived the BBSE to be an effective strategy for enhancing student engagement. Designed to "look through the eyes of the learners" through the articulation of what students need to know, understand and be able to do, participants in the study perceived the BBSE as an effective strategy for student engagement.