Meet the Student Leaders Changing School! (Part II)
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
05/08/22
•12m
About
Comments
Transcript
Featured In
In this S1E13 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, discover how four Ithaca High School students, Adam Saar, Grace Lim, Aitan Avgar, and Kadek Nawiana, transformed their entire school district through authentic student engagement and advocacy. These inspiring student representatives share exactly how they got religious holidays added to the school calendar, implemented new grading policies during COVID, and created lasting change that benefits ALL students.
What You'll Learn:
✅ How students can effectively communicate with school leadership
✅ Strategies for meaningful student participation in district decisions
✅ Building bridges between students and school administrators
✅ Creating inclusive teaching environments through student voice
✅ Practical approaches to school improvement from the ground up
Perfect for teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, instructional leaders, and anyone passionate about student success and education transformation. These empowered educators prove that when we listen to students, we create thriving students and inspired teaching.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction: Meet the Student Representatives
02:30 - How Students Get Elected to School Board
04:15 - Why These Students Chose Leadership Roles
07:45 - What Being a Student Rep Actually Entails
11:20 - Engaging Disconnected Students Through Social Media
13:30 - Hot Topics: Universal Lunch & Schedule Changes
16:10 - Major Win: Getting Religious Holidays on School Calendar
19:45 - The Personal Impact of Calendar Changes
22:00 - COVID's Impact: Grading Policy Advocacy
24:30 - Sustainability: Training the Next Generation
28:15 - Creating More Opportunities for Student Voice
30:45 - Future Plans: Where These Leaders Are Headed
33:20 - Final Thoughts & Call to Action
Please (seriously, you must...) take the time to see these incredible students in action, speaking to issues from our interview via the two ICSD Board Meeting Video Clips Below:
- ICSD Board of Education Voting Meeting - Tuesday, March 22, 2022 (via Zoom)
- ICSD Board of Education Voting Meeting - Tuesday, April 26, 2022 (via Zoom)
#StudentVoice #EducationLeadership #StudentEngagement #SchoolImprovement #EducationReform #StudentAdvocacy #SchoolBoard #TeacherSupport #EducationEquity #StudentSuccess #SchoolChange #EducationTransformation #StudentLeadership #InclusiveEducation #ParentInvolvement #SchoolCulture #EducationStrategy #StudentMotivation #EmpoweredEducators #ThrivingStudents
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode of Schoolutions Teaching Strategies Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@schoolutionspodcast/
& 👉Follow Schoolutions Teaching Strategies Podcast on social:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-wahl-4300811a/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schoolutionspodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/schoolutionspodcast/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/olivia-wahl.bsky.social
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@schoolutionspodcast
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
Meet the Student Leaders Changing School! (Part I)
May 1, 2022
•20m
In this S1E12 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, discover how four Ithaca High School students, Adam Saar, Grace Lim, Aitan Avgar, and Kadek Nawiana, transformed their entire school district through authentic student engagement and advocacy. These inspiring student representatives share exactly how they got religious holidays added to the school calendar, implemented new grading policies during COVID, and created lasting change that benefits ALL students.
What You'll Learn:
✅ How students can effectively communicate with school leadership
✅ Strategies for meaningful student participation in district decisions
✅ Building bridges between students and school administrators
✅ Creating inclusive teaching environments through student voice
✅ Practical approaches to school improvement from the ground up
Perfect for teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, instructional leaders, and anyone passionate about student success and education transformation. These empowered educators prove that when we listen to students, we create thriving students and inspired teaching.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction: Meet the Student Representatives
02:30 - How Students Get Elected to School Board
04:15 - Why These Students Chose Leadership Roles
07:45 - What Being a Student Rep Actually Entails
11:20 - Engaging Disconnected Students Through Social Media
13:30 - Hot Topics: Universal Lunch & Schedule Changes
16:10 - Major Win: Getting Religious Holidays on School Calendar
19:45 - The Personal Impact of Calendar Changes
22:00 - COVID's Impact: Grading Policy Advocacy
24:30 - Sustainability: Training the Next Generation
28:15 - Creating More Opportunities for Student Voice
30:45 - Future Plans: Where These Leaders Are Headed
33:20 - Final Thoughts & Call to Action
Please (seriously, you must...) take the time to see these incredible students in action, speaking to issues from our interview via the two ICSD Board Meeting Video Clips Below:
- ICSD Board of Education Voting Meeting - Tuesday, March 22, 2022 (via Zoom)
- ICSD Board of Education Voting Meeting - Tuesday, April 26, 2022 (via Zoom)
#StudentVoice #EducationLeadership #StudentEngagement #SchoolImprovement #EducationReform #StudentAdvocacy #SchoolBoard #TeacherSupport #EducationEquity #StudentSuccess #SchoolChange #EducationTransformation #StudentLeadership #InclusiveEducation #ParentInvolvement #SchoolCulture #EducationStrategy #StudentMotivation #EmpoweredEducators #ThrivingStudents
👉 LINKED EPISODE SHOWNOTES:
Part I: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1890886/10494750
Part II: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1890886/10495450
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode of Schoolutions Teaching Strategies Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@schoolutionspodcast/
& 👉Follow Schoolutions Teaching Strategies Podcast on social:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-wahl-4300811a/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schoolutionspodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/schoolutionspodcast/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/olivia-wahl.bsky.social
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@schoolutionspodcast
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
How Music + Reading Changes Children's Lives Forever
May 15, 2022
•30m
In this S1E14 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, meet the dream team behind Children’s Reading Connection: internationally acclaimed literacy leader Brigid Hubberman, singer-songwriter and educator John Simon, and community advocate Cal Walker. Learn their proven strategies for creating inclusive classrooms, boosting student engagement, and building strong family partnerships that last a lifetime.
🎵 What You'll Learn:
• How the "Sing Me a Story, Read Me a Song" method increases student participation and attention in class
• Effective teaching strategies that work with difficult students and low engagement
• Innovative approaches to culturally responsive teaching and inclusive education
• Pro-kid mindset techniques that transform classroom behavior
• How to build meaningful home-school connections and caregiver support
• The power of active learning through music and storytelling
Chapters
0:00 - Welcome & Guest Introductions
4:26 - Inspiring Educators: Who Changed Their Lives?
8:44 - The Early Literacy Crisis & Their Solution
9:50 - Cal Reads "All the Colors of the Earth" (Live Performance)
12:30 - Children's Reading Connection: Mission & Vision
15:33 - How They Get Books Into Homes & Hearts
17:14 - The Magic Behind Their 15-Year Partnership
20:34 - The Science of Music & Memory in Learning
21:18 - "Sing Me a Story, Read Me a Song" Initiative
24:29 - Community Partnerships & Fundraising
26:27 - The Cultural Impact on Families
27:08 - John & Cal Perform "All Are Welcome" (Live)
30:19 - Final Thoughts & Gratitude
Find Brigid’s Published Writing within:
- Game Changer! Book Access for All Kids by Donalyn Miller and Colby Sharp (2018)
- Jim Trelease's Read-Aloud Handbook: Eighth Edition (2019)
Click Links to Learn More About:
More Research to Support This Work:
- Children and Music: Benefits of Music in Child Development by Bright Horizons Education Team (February 2022)
- How Music Can Improve Reading Skills In Children by Natalie Wilson (June 2017)
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
If you like this episode you’ll love
Promoted