Student Voice

Student voice is often discussed in education but can look very different depending on your leadership role. Whether in the classroom, leading a building, or overseeing a district, you listen to and act on student perspectives. I’ve seen how powerful student voice can be and faced moments where I didn’t do this as well as I should have. These experiences remind me why it’s so critical, especially as we strive to improve educational systems for all students.

Student voice should be far more than token representation — a single student sitting at the board table or a select group involved in decision-making. While those roles have their place, empowering student voices requires going deeper and creating spaces where students feel their perspectives matter. Providing open information forums — where students of all backgrounds could freely share — has consistently been one of the most effective strategies.

Student Voice in the Classroom

As a teacher, I found that moving beyond lectures to include collaboration and dialogue made a big difference. Tools like student-led projects, group discussions, and reflective journals allowed students to share ideas and shape their learning experiences.

One of the most memorable examples was letting students co-create parts of the curriculum. When they chose topics or led discussions, they became more engaged and invested in their learning. This wasn’t just about giving them a say—it was about showing them their voice mattered. That authenticity—making their input meaningful rather than performative—is what made it work.

Student Voice in the Building

As a building administrator, I saw how student voices could influence the broader school culture. Structured groups like student councils or advisory boards were a starting point, tackling issues like events or policy recommendations. But I also recognized the limits of these groups. Often, they included only the most outspoken or involved students, leaving quieter voices unheard.

Multiple forums allowed smaller groups to share their thoughts comfortably—sometimes just informal lunchtime conversations—creating a space for students to express themselves. The candid feedback often helped us make changes that improved the experience for many others.

Student Voice at the District Level

I’ve worked with student advisory councils that provided structured input. While these groups brought valuable perspectives, I found insights often came from less formal opportunities for dialogue, similar to student voice at the building level.

District-wide forums or surveys (though survey fatigue can be an issue) allowed us to hear from a more significant representation of students, not just those already in leadership roles. For instance, during discussions about revising our curriculum and format, students shared their thoughts on creating a more impactful experience. The student perspective led to changes that better aligned with their needs. These authentic conversations often revealed nuances we might have missed otherwise.

It’s easy to check a box by formally involving students, but student voice goes deeper. It’s about:

• Creating open platforms: Hosting forums or focus groups where all students can participate.
• Seeking diverse voices: Proactively reaching out to students from different backgrounds and experiences.
• Incorporating feedback: Showing students how their input leads to fundamental changes.
• Encouraging safe expression: Ensuring students feel comfortable sharing without fear of judgment.

Student voice is more than checking a box; it fosters real connections and dialogue. By moving beyond tokenism and embracing authentic practices, students' insights, creativity, and passion can transform our schools and the entire educational system.

As a teacher, I found that moving beyond lectures to include collaboration and dialogue made a big difference. Tools like student-led projects, group discussions, and reflective journals allowed students to share ideas and shape their learning experiences.

One of the most memorable examples was letting students co-create parts of the curriculum. When they chose topics or led discussions, they became more engaged and invested in their learning. This wasn’t just about giving them a say—it was about showing them their voice mattered. That authenticity—making their input meaningful rather than performative—is what made it work.

Student Voice in the Building

As a building administrator, I saw how student voices could influence the broader school culture. Structured groups like student councils or advisory boards were a starting point, tackling issues like events or policy recommendations. But I also recognized the limits of these groups. Often, they included only the most outspoken or involved students, leaving quieter voices unheard.

Multiple forums allowed smaller groups to share their thoughts comfortably—sometimes just informal lunchtime conversations—creating a space for students to express themselves. The candid feedback often helped us make changes that improved the experience for many others.

Student Voice at the District Level

I’ve worked with student advisory councils that provided structured input. While these groups brought valuable perspectives, I found insights often came from less formal opportunities for dialogue, similar to student voice at the building level.

District-wide forums or surveys (though survey fatigue can be an issue) allowed us to hear from a more significant representation of students, not just those already in leadership roles. For instance, during discussions about revising our curriculum and format, students shared their thoughts on creating a more impactful experience. The student perspective led to changes that better aligned with their needs. These authentic conversations often revealed nuances we might have missed otherwise.

It’s easy to check a box by formally involving students, but student voice goes deeper. It’s about:

• Creating open platforms: Hosting forums or focus groups where all students can participate.
• Seeking diverse voices: Proactively reaching out to students from different backgrounds and experiences.
• Incorporating feedback: Showing students how their input leads to fundamental changes.
• Encouraging safe expression: Ensuring students feel comfortable sharing without fear of judgment.

Student voice is more than checking a box; it fosters real connections and dialogue. By moving beyond tokenism and embracing authentic practices, students' insights, creativity, and passion can transform our schools and the entire educational system.