Empowering Students to Shape Their Learning

Schools Elevate Student Voice in Education

“Student engagement is a phrase being used frequently to ensure students are more than passive learners, rather active participants in their education. We want students to own their learning,” said District Superintendent Shelly Viramontez. “We want to give them a voice in decisions that impact their school experience, foster a sense of ownership, confidence, and engagement in their learning.”

Across our schools, students are stepping into leadership roles, sharing their perspectives, and making meaningful contributions to their school communities. 

Here are a few ways this shift is making a difference.

Superintendent’s Student Council: A quarterly meeting with two student representatives from each school and the Superintendent. The agenda is co-created to allow students to share their perspectives and learn more about the district. This council has been instrumental in providing some improvement ideas. One instance was the suggestion to move from individual packets of condiments to larger dispensers to reduce trash and improve campus cleanliness as students reported these packets being stepped on in the hallways and smeared in the bathrooms. We began piloting this improvement idea earlier this school year.

Creative Problem Solving: During their AIM Innovation sessions and science classes, students regularly engage in creative problem solving and critical thinking learning experiences. Students identify and develop empathy for a challenge at school or in the community, collaborate and design possible solutions, then refine and share their solutions. Many of these learning experiences will be highlighted with the greater community at the annual Arts, Innovation and Music Showcase. Please mark your calendars to come out and see the innovative and creative work of our students.  The AIM Showcase will be held March 20, from 4:30 until 6:30 pm at Monroe Middle School.

Student Focus Groups: Surveys are only one way in which teachers and school administrators obtain feedback from students. The adults conduct focus group sessions with students in order to gain greater understanding of low ratings on the student survey.