Teams join forces for meaningful student voice & engagement!

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.

“By combining these groups, we are solidifying a powerful school-community partnership that will enable us to create a path for integrating student voice at every level of the district,” said Derrick Williams, Co-Chair of the Student Voice & Engagement A-Team.

The goals of the Student Voice & Engagement A-Team are also aligned to the district’s newly unveiled Signature Initiatives & Core Tenets. 

“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,” said Dr. Michelle Springer, MNPS Chief of Student Services, “ 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.”

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 activities
  • Formale a continuous process for engaging diverse students across various tiers.

“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,” said A-Team Co-Chair Dr. Judy Freudenthal of Oasis Center, “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!”

The Student Voice & Engagement A-Team is one to watch in 2021.

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