The Student Voice A-Team seeks to improve student voice and engagement throughout MNPS through leveraging existing structures, and creating and adapting tools.
During the 2023-24 school year, the Student Voice A-Team is continuing to support its pilot at Margaret Allen Middle School, while supporting a district-wide Student Voice Campaign and creating a Student Voice Playbook for expansion and sustainability. See "Latest Work" below for an overview of the pilot's activities and outcomes.
Co-Chairs:
Judy Freudenthal, Oasis Center
Derrick Williams, MNPS
Members:
Dr. Simyka Carlton, MNPS
Dr. Krista Davis, MNPS
Laura Delgado, Lipscomb
Allie Duke, NAZA
Laura Fittz, Vanderbilt University
Melissa Gordon, MNPS
Anthony Hall, MNPS
Jackie Hansom, Vanderbilt University
Ashford Hughes, MNPS
Quincy Ingle, MNPS
Dr. Yolanda Jackson, MNPS
Dr. Thomas Lavallais, MNPS
Vanessa Lazon, MNPS
Monica Mclauren, NAZA
Ellen Montgomery, MNPS
Kawema Orita, CIS
Marc Peek, MNPS
Chad Prather, MNPS
Benjamin Smith, Southern Word
Chae Snorten, MNPS
In 2022, members of the Positive Schools Supports, and DEI teams of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools introduced a student voice continuum to aid school leaders and staff in assessing and enhancing their engagement with student perspectives. This innovative tool can be used to help educators identify the current level of student voice in their schools, ranging from basic input to active student leadership and decision-making.
The Alignment Nashville Student Voice A-team applied this continuum at Margaret Allen Middle School during a Student Voice Pilot, creating strategies to not only amplify but also increase opportunities in schools for learner-driven engagement. The team is currently wrapping up the pilot and working on developing a toolkit that could support other schools in amplifying and increasing their efforts to support student voice and engagement.
Additional information about the Student Voice A-Team: