Superintendent s Student Advisory Committee Experience & Vision Statement May 18, 2017
Purpose and Creation of the Student Advisory Committee Purpose Creation & Selection Students will articulate their vision for public education in Orleans Parish, and present this vision to OPSB leadership in May 2017 The final vision statement will address two questions: 1. What are the most important components that students want out of their schools? 2. What experiences and supports do students seek, that may or may not be available today? The Superintendent s Student Advisory Committee was selected from over 100 applications of students attending public schools across the city The selection committee was comprised of OPSB & RSD administration, the 4 Teacher Leaders, and members of the Community & Transparency Task Force Selections were made based on application responses and focused on ensuring that the Committee had representation from across the city 2
Superintendent s Student Advisory Committee Members Student School Student School Chianti Baptiste The NET Charter High School Brooke Larkins Sophie B. Wright Anthony Rhodes, Jr. Benjamin Franklin Elementary Desmond LeBlanc Warren Easton Franklin Burke Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Kenneth Kirkpatrick Warren Easton Akliah Toney NOCCA Zi Onne Francis Edna Karr High School Destiny Letterman Samuel J. Green Charter School Lamiya Shaheer Edna Karr High School Christiann Cannon Abramson Sci Academy Gabriela Guzman Edna Karr High School Ayannica Leach Abramson Sci Academy Miya Thomas Cohen College Prep Delaney Perkins KIPP Renaissance High School Terenneca Joseph Crocker College Prep Ralph Johnson III KIPP Renaissance High School Julian Sorapuru Lusher Charter School Jaden Scott McDonogh #35 HS Ari Berk Lusher Charter School Aaliyah Andrews McDonogh #35 HS Julia Simon Lusher Charter School 3
Overview and Experience of the Committee 22 Students 8-12 graders from 14 New Orleans public schools Includes a former EL student, representation from NOCCA and the NET 9 Meetings Led by 4 Teacher Leaders and OPSB & RSD Administrators Held at Warren Easton HS Included expert panelists on surveying, NOLA school landscape, and accountability Fun Activities Significant time spent getting to know one another s unique school experiences Ice-breakers, pizza & chicken, soda, and friendly competitions Learning & Reflecting Drafted an initial set of vision statements and values for consideration Posed questions to be answered in a student survey to finalize vision document 4
February 21 March 7 March 22 April 1 Student-Led Surveying To help shape our vision document, we gathered peer input and suggestions for improvement on their schooling experiences via online survey Created initial questions & received training from a surveying expert Refined questions & developed survey process Online survey opened to 8-12 th graders in public schools Received over 750 survey responses 5
Student Survey Results Received over 750 responses Questions centered around School Experiences, Teaching & Learning, Access & Skills, and Open-Ended Suggestions 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Are you satisfied with the quality of education at your school? 29 Strongly Dissatisfied 139 388 77% satisfied 195 Dissatisfied Satisfied Strongly Satisfied Most Important Skills to Learn before Graduating Communications Reading/Literacy Problem Solving Financial Literacy Math/Numeracy Social & Cross-Cultural Tech/Media Creativity/Innovation Workplace Preparedness Foreign Languages Global Citizenship Other 34 90 148 211 204 202 191 263 259 297 294 482 The survey results helped frame our final vision statement 6
Vision Statement 7
The Students Vision for Public Schools in New Orleans The Superintendent s Student Advisory Committee believes that every public school student should experience the highest quality education in inclusive and empowering schools throughout the city. These experiences should include: A Rigorous and Diverse Academic Experience Robust Extracurricular Opportunities Comprehensive Student Support Services Fair and Firm School Culture and Discipline Authentic Platforms for Student Voice and Representation 8
A Rigorous and Diverse Academic Experience Public Schools in New Orleans must ensure that we have access to the highest quality teachers who personalize instruction and create rigorous learning environments and give us access to a variety of curricular options to support our passions and futures. Key Ideas Training for teachers to learn to adapt to specific learning needs Various course options of high interest to students (AP courses, foreign languages, home economics, etc.) Strong career preparatory program at each school to help students transition to high school/college/workforce When asked if students are interested in the majority of their classes: Relevant Survey Results Strongly Agree: 16.8% None: 20.9% When asked how many teachers provide opportunities to learn about different subjects outside the classroom, they said: Agree: 45.2% A Few: 48.3% Disagree: 32.5% Most: 21.9% Strongly Disagree: 5.5% All: 8.9% 9
Robust Extracurricular Opportunities Public Schools in New Orleans should offer rich and varied extracurricular activities and opportunities that appeal to all of us, including sports, clubs, internships, service learning activities, and trips. Key Ideas Relevant Survey Results Adopt measures to assess students interests When asked what students would like at their schools, they responded with: When asked which class or skills they would like to see included: Equitable access to a diversity of extracurricular options Embrace new clubs that reflect modern activities and relevant real-world learning experiences Field Trips: 71.9% More/better food options: 70.7% More variety in course offerings: 36% More extra- curricular activities: 34.2% Baking/cooking/culinary: 70 responses Foreign Languages: 67 responses Home Economics: 58 responses Cosmetology: 31 responses 10
Comprehensive Student Support Services Every school must provide a support system for all of us, with caring and available staff members and updated resources to help ensure our social, emotional and physical needs are fully met. Above all else, we believe that every adult in our schools should care about the whole child, and not just our academic achievement. Key Ideas Employ experienced and passionate support staff (counselors, social workers, advisors, etc.) at an adequate adult to student ratio Develop a strategic plan to identify and provide services and extra supports to students who need them most When asked if students with disabilities are included in ALL school activities: Relevant Survey Results Strongly Agree: 52.9% None: 26.1% Agree: 26.9% A Few: 39.8% Disagree: 13.3% Most: 20.6% When asked how many teachers support them when they are upset, students said: Strongly Disagree: 6.9% All: 13.5% 11
Fair and Firm School Culture and Discipline Public schools in New Orleans should create a firm and respectful school culture that is most conducive to learning, while simultaneously allowing us to feel accepted, engaged and free to express ourselves as young people. Key Ideas Equitable and student-driven dress codes that are non-restrictive to gender, race, sexual orientation, nor ability Restorative justice practices that promote discussion and repair, not consequence- based Course offerings that capture the views and stories of different cultures and perspectives Practice inclusivity and the awareness of different identity markers (race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc.) Emphasize and embrace energy efficiency, recycling, and educating the environmental issues that affect our city Embrace student empowerment to prepare for future independence When asked if students see people of many races, ethnicities and backgrounds represented in the curriculum: Relevant Survey Results When asked if most students treat each other with respect: Strongly Agree: 42% Strongly Disagree: 27.1% Agree: 27.5% Disagree: 30.2% Disagree: 22.1% Agree: 29.9% Strongly Disagree: 8.4% Strongly Agree: 12.8% 12
Authentic Platforms for Student Voice and Representation Our schools, and the district as a whole, must strive to include our voices, collectively and individually, in school affairs, academic choices, and school culture. We believe our voices should be at the center of key conversations about our city s public schools. Key Ideas Relevant Survey Results Establish platforms for students to express their needs and wants Create a position of student liaison on school governing boards and ensure that schools hold student council elections regularly Survey the student body to receive feedback on the school experience Continue to seek student voice and representation to the Orleans Parish School Board When asked if students feel like they have a voice in school policy, they said: Strongly Disagree: 38.2% Disagree: 32.6% Agree: 18.4% Strongly Agree: 10.8% 13
Final Reflections The initial vision statements did not include student voice and representation. It was later added to reflect the results of the survey and the Committee s feelings Getting to know and learn about other students at public schools across the city was the most rewarding aspect Continue this work in the future THANK YOU to our Teacher Leaders: Mr. Jim Kline, Sci Academy Ms. Caitlin Meehan-Draper, Samuel Green ES Mr. Troy Lawson, Crocker College Prep Mr. Kendall McManus, Warren Easton 14