According to MNPS data, when students’ voices are heard and valued at school there are lower rates of disciplinary actions that remove students from the school building (i.e. suspensions, expulsion, etc.). To further explore and act on this discovery, the Student Voice & Engagement Alignment Team is joining forces with Metro Schools’ internal student voice workgroup to pursue an ambitious plan that ensures students are heard and understood throughout MNPS.
In the coming months, the A-Team will pursue a number of outcomes:
Establish a consistent framework for student voice
Develop a timeline of planned student engagement actions
Formalize a continuous process for engaging diverse students
Develop tools to help teachers & school staff incorporate student voice
Our students are our greatest resource and asset. As a collaborative body, the MNPS and Alignment Nashville A-Team for Student Voice and Engagement are committed to joining forces to do the work WITH our students. Together, we value the opportunity to learn from our students. Our continued coordination and partnership will establish a framework that amplifies student leadership and voice as a sustainable practice at the district, school, classroom, and community level.
Many of us view student voice as one of the most cost-effective, equity-driven strategies to transform school climate, student engagement, and creating a place where students want to learn. We share a synergy that can put Nashville on a significant path towards inclusivity, relevancy, and solving problems through our most underutilized resources – our students!
Student Voice & Engagement Alignment Team
- Judy Freudenthal, Oasis Center, Co-Chair
- Derrick Williams, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Co-Chair
- Jacob Aparicio, Oasis Center
- Cesar Bautista, TIRRC
- Olympia Buckingham, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Simyka Carlton, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Kawema, Communities In Schools
- London Craddock, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Mary Crnobori, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Krista Davis, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Allie Duke, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Laura Fittz, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Natalyn Gibbs, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Vilmaris Gonzalez, Ed Trust of Tennessee
- Amber Hale, YWCA
- Melissa Gordon, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Laura Hansen, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Jackie Hansom
- Ashford Hughes, Office of the Mayor
- Yolanda Jackson, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Kyla Krengel, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Vanessa Lazon, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Katrina Lilly, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Michelle Maultsby-Springer, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Monica McLaurine, Nashville Public Library
- Jama Mohamed, Tennessee Disability Coallition
- Ellen Montgomery, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Elisa Norris, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Catherine Sakarapanee, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Avery Shippen, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Benjamin Smith, Southern Word, Inc.
- Lilly Stewart, Metro Nashville Public Schools