Student Voice Toolkit

The Instrument of Change (p. xiv).

Riverview School District Student Voice This toolkit is to provide you with a set of tools that may lead and guide you on your journey to include Student Voice in your key leadership positions. Student voices are powerful tools and as leaders in the education system we have an opportunity to include their voices as often as possible.

Student Representatives Riverview Student School Board Representatives

http://rsd407.org/schoolboard/board-of-directors/student_reps/student_reps.aspx

Recruitment Riverview has two student representatives who serve two-year terms: A Junior and a Senior. Recruitment strategies for the Junior representative begin in the last month before school is out and include:

Senior representative talking about the program to others students.

Leadership team members talking to potential candidates.

Communications, such as morning announcements, newsletters, daily bulletin, website.

Key Resources

Board Procedures and Policies – http://rsd407.org/schoolboard/board-of-

directors/student_reps/student_reps.aspx

Policy - http://rsd407.org/schoolboard/policies/policies/1000/1200.pdf

Procedure - http://rsd407.org/schoolboard/policies/policies/1000/P1200-1.pdf

Application Students are asked to complete an application process which includes letters of recommendations.

Key Resource

Student Application Process - http://rsd407.org/schoolboard/board-of-

directors/student_reps/student_reps.aspx

Recruitment

Application

Interview Orientation

Onboarding

SelectionFirst

Meeting

Student Voice Toolkit

The Instrument of Change (p. xiv).

“We believe student voice should be instrumental to any educational reform agenda. Our theme,

therefore, is Listen, Learn, and Lead. We must not only ask young people their thoughts, but we must

truly listen. We must learn from what they are saying by asking important questions and discovering

why they feel as they do. And finally, we must utilize what we learn to be effective educators.”

Russell J. Quaglia. Student Voice: The Instrument of Change. (p. xiv).

Interview Students attend a 30-minute interview with key leaders from the High School, the Superintendent, the

current Student Representative and two members from the Board of Directors. The interview team uses

a specific set of questions for each student. The interview team also uses a matrix to score the individual

during the interview.

Selection After the series of student interviews, the interview team adds up their scores and then discusses the

strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. The candidate with the highest score and who everyone

agrees upon is selected. The high school principal calls all candidates and informs them of the decision.

Onboarding Once the student accepts the position, there are a few onboarding steps:

1. Set up an orientation meeting with the Superintendent and Board President

2. Set up access to the online board documentation site

3. Order a name plate and business cards

4. Send student all the meeting dates

Orientation The Superintendent and often the President of the Board of Directors meet with the student prior to the

first meeting. Subjects discussed include:

Expectations of the student.

Board policies and procedures.

A high-level discussion of fiduciary duties and budgets.

Answers to any questions the student may have.

First meeting The student is sworn in by the President at the first meeting of the year. The student has received an

electronic board packet to which they read prior to the meeting. We advise the student to meet with

the Senior student representative prior to the meeting for a student perspective on what to expect.

Students do not vote; yet we do ask for their feedback on all key decisions.

We have ongoing informal meetings with each student representative throughout the program with

board members, the Superintendent, or both. Also, the Superintendent and board members separately

act as leadership mentors, as well as writing letters of recommendation and coaching student

representatives on applications for everything from college applications, job applications, interviews,

and internships.

Student Voice Toolkit

The Instrument of Change (p. xiv).

“It is not enough to simply listen to student voice. Educators have an ethical imperative to do

something with students, and that is why meaningful student involvement is vital to school

improvement.”

Adam Fletcher, Author, The Guide to Student Voice.

Student Roundtables Each year, often at the beginning of the school year, the Board of Directors conduct roundtables. The

purpose of roundtables is two-fold: a platform for board members to learn more about individual

schools or programs, so that we can make better policy and funding decisions, and a way to form

partnerships with our local community members. Our district conducts four sessions of roundtables. At

least one of the four sessions is with student members. We ask our counselors to select students in

order to make sure we have a representative membership at the meeting. We do provide a list of

guiding questions that drive the discussion, though we don’t stop the discussion if it organically goes a

direction we didn’t intend. These roundtables are enlightening and allow us to hear different

perspectives from our staff, students, and community members.

RSD School Board Protocol for Roundtables

Purpose: Meet with the group, receive input and updates, and better understand their needs and roles.

Process: Open dialog with group.

Payoff: For the RSD Board to make better decisions by understanding the needs and roles.

A student voice example of our protocol and a list of guiding questions for the roundtables can be found

at http://rsd407.org/schoolboard/agendas_minutes/2017_Minutes/November%207,%202017%20-

%20Roundtable%20on%20CHS%20Student%20Voice.pdf

Student Presentations We ask students to present to the Board formally and informally.

Formally, we have a student group present on key areas of interest such as robotics, reading curriculum,

technology integration, etc. We have a least one group of students present each month of the year that

school is in session.

Informally, we encourage our students to speak during the open public meeting session on topics they

are passionate about. For example, we have had students present on topics including school safety,

sports conduct, provide reporting on a program they have found highly effective, just to name a few.

Student Voice Toolkit

The Instrument of Change (p. xiv).

Student Voice Resources We have drawn inspiration from many resources throughout the years. This is a compilation of

resources to date that we have found useful. Please feel free to send your ideas to

rsdschoolboard@rsd407.org. We welcome learning more!

Books

The Guide to Student Voice – Adam Fletcher

Student Voice: The Instrument of Change - Russell J. Quaglia (Author), Michael J. Corso

A Time to Learn: The Story 1 High School's Remarkable Transformation People Who Made it Happen by

George H. Wood

Student Voice Resources Review – Blogs, Articles, News sources

K12 Insights Whitepaper – How to Amplify Student Voice

Crosscut Blog – What We Learn When We Listen to Students by Lori Oviatt

Edutopia Blog - How to Amplify Student Voice: Listen - Bringing students into conversations about school

change is the goal of a student-led effort that has grown from a Twitter chat into a national movement.

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/how-amplify-student-voice-school-change-start-listening-suzie-boss

Student Choice Leads to Student Voice - By giving students opportunities to produce quality work about

issues that matter, we give them access to their passion, voice, skills, and revelation.

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-choice-leads-to-voice-joshua-block

Speak Out, Listen Up! - Tools for using student perspectives and local data for school improvement -

Toolkit for Educators - https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/west/pdf/REL_2014035.pdf

ReThinking Learning Blog – 10 Steps to Encourage Student Voice and Choice.

https://barbarabray.net/2012/02/03/10-steps-to-encourage-student-voice-and-choice/

PBL Blog – Student Voice and Choice: It’s Not Just for Projects Anymore.

https://www.bie.org/blog/student_voice_and_choice_its_not_just_for_projects_anymore

MOTIVATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND STUDENT VOICE TOOLKIT By Eric Toshalis and Michael J. Nakkula -

https://studentsatthecenterhub.org/wp-content/legacyimg/1_SATC_Motivation_Toolkit_051713.pdf

The Quaglia Institute for School Voice & Aspirations - http://quagliainstitute.org/qisva/

The Student Voice organization – Contains a Student Bill of Rights - https://www.stuvoice.org/

John Norlin – http://www.johnnorlin.com/ - a Washington educator who developed the CharacterStrong

Curriculum – Every student is a student leader. - https://www.characterstrong.com/

Washington State Board of Education – Student representative present to State Board meetings.

http://www.sbe.wa.gov/documents/BoardMeetings/2018/March/04%20Student%20Presentation.pdf

Student Voice Toolkit

The Instrument of Change (p. xiv).

Time Magazine: Student Walkouts Have Changed American History Before. Here's How

Students Aren’t Waiting for March or April. They’re Protesting Now. Every day since February 21, high-school and middle-school students across the country have protested for stronger gun laws, often by walking out of class. https://www.thenation.com/article/students-arent-waiting-for-march-or-april-theyre-protesting-now/

7 Times in History When Students Turned to Activism.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/us/student-protest-movements.html

Blast From The Past: Student Protests In The 1800s.

https://grapevine.is/mag/articles/2017/10/09/blast-from-the-past-student-protests-in-the-1800s/

Iceland: Mass Protests Continue.

https://www.socialistalternative.org/2016/04/23/iceland-mass-protests-continue/

‘Fees Must Fall’: Anatomy of the Student Protests in South Africa.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/23/world/africa/fees-must-fall-anatomy-of-the-student-protests-in-

south-africa.html

How “student politics” at a university in Bangladesh differ from student councils and ASBs at other

universities, representing specific political parties, and not the student body as a whole.

http://www.thedailystar.net/student-politics-in-bangladesh-52187

How a non-partisan organization is working to register incoming freshman at the University of Utah to

vote, working to give students a voice in politics at every level. Utah has one of the youngest

populations of any state, but the lowest voter turnout.

http://dailyutahchronicle.com/2017/08/17/openings-hinckley-institute-making-easier-u-students-vote/

Students in California stage protests after Trump Victory.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/high-school-students-stage-walk-outs-protest-trump-victory-

n681646

6th Graders plea to Governor key in ending WV teachers strike!!

https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/28/us/west-virginia-student-governor-strike-ends/index.html

MSU students demand change after Larry Nassar trial.

http://www.wibw.com/content/news/471435044.html

A Student’s Voice for Gun Control.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/22/opinion/student-gun-control.html

Oregon students list mental health services in top concerns https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-

world/oregon-students-list-mental-health-services-in-top-concerns/

Chicago Teens Meet With Parkland Survivors To Discuss Gun Violence

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/03/05/st-sabina-students-parkland-survivors/

Student Voice Toolkit

The Instrument of Change (p. xiv).

“Trying to ask these educational experts how to appeal to kids … without asking

students themselves is like asking your 92-year old grandmother how to use

Instagram when you have a teenager in the house.”

~ Catherine Zhang, high school student, TEDx Plano,

The Necessity of the Student Voice,

discussing the importance of listening to students.

Ahead of walkouts over gun issues, students and schools wonder: Can kids be punished for protesting?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-student-walkout-rights-20180228-

story.html

Hundreds protest in Hong Kong after two students suspended in Mandarin test row. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-hongkong-protests-students/hundreds-protest-in-hong-kong-after-

two-students-suspended-in-mandarin-test-row-idUKKBN1FF1EG

Engagement and Impact: Design Thinking and the Arts.

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/engagement-impact-design-thinking-arts-kim-dabbs

Students to lead Safety discussion – forum.

https://www.dailyrecordnews.com/news/students-to-lead-school-safety-discussion-on-

tuesday/article_38a4ff8f-58ef-5969-928e-94c1e6f16ea9.html

Novi superintendent: It's our responsibility to help students learn to use their voices.

https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/novi/2018/03/08/novi-superintendent-its-our-

responsibility-help-students-learn-use-their-voices/394136002/