A New twist involving Student Voice

We often discuss the importance and significance of “student voice” in our schools today. This term can truly embrace several different components.  We know that students thrive when their voice is heard and their ideas incorporated within building practices, classroom protocols, and class lesson activities. What follows is the work to include student voice in building practices.

Last spring we began talking about ways to restructure, revamp, and revise the way we select our school’s Teacher of the Year and our Support Staff of the Year. Our Climate Committee met. And one idea that quickly surfaced included student voice in the new selection process. The Committee finalized the revised format and unveiled the new protocols this past August (’14). 

Our middle school decided to include students in the nomination process. So student, certified staff, and support staff can all nominate teachers for this honor. Within the student voice facet, the committee determined that 8^th graders would be included in the nomination process. As the 8^th grade students would be the group of students who would have had exposure to all grade levels, they would have the best student perspective for this process. Nominations concluded in December.  Finalists were selected from the nominations (top five in each category) and voting just concluded. Again 8^th graders and our staff voted. We will announce our 2015 Teacher of the Year and our 2015 Support Staff of the Year on Wednesday January 21, 2015.

The most exciting thing is how our school has honored student voice in an area where recognize outstanding work and contributions made by our certified and support staff personnel. So why not include student voice in this selection process? During the past few  years, following the announcement of our staff members of the year, students have been asking the question, “Why don’t students have a vote in our Teacher of the Year?” That question has been answered and now our students have a voice in this selection process.  Student voice consists of 1/3 of the final vote and staff voice consists of 2/3 of that voting process.

I am looking forward to the committee making these two announcements later this month. It will be the culmination of work from our Climate Committee and the voiced requests from our students.  What an exciting way to kick off second semester and 2015!