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Student voices tour highlights safety, respect and hands‑on learning; district outlines AI guidebook and ambassador program
Summary
WJCC leaders spent time with middle and high school students and reported themes — students want more realistic lockdown drills, more staff check‑ins, and hands‑on, career‑connected learning. Separately, the division announced an AI guidebook and a William & Mary‑led AI ambassador program for staff.
District leaders said they spent eight hours with 25 students at middle and high schools to gather student perspectives on safety, support, generative AI and learning preferences and reported recurring themes to the school board on April 1.
On safety, students told staff they want more varied lockdown drills — including scenarios where threats are inside the building — so more students take drills seriously and are better prepared. Students said they are comfortable with staff but asked for more opportunities for relationship building and interventions when disrespect or bullying occurs.
On supports and culture, students said they feel supported when teachers check in regularly, provide academic flexibility and scaffolded help, and when staff intervene to stop disrespect and harassment. Students also asked for more structured opportunities to meet peers outside their usual social circles to reduce misunderstanding.
On teaching and learning, students expressed a strong preference for active, hands‑on learning (labs, projects, group work), assignments that allow deeper demonstration of learning (presentations and essays rather than multiple‑choice tests) and more career‑connected electives (financial literacy, interview skills, life skills). Students also asked for in‑school structured time to complete assignments and access help.
On generative AI, students described it as a tool to support learning but said dishonest uses occur and asked for clear guidelines and instruction on verifying AI‑generated content. Presenters said students want teachers trained on how to integrate AI responsibly. The division’s instructional technology team said it is developing a generative AI guidebook organized around guiding principles (transparency, ethical use, privacy, human oversight) and plans to publish it early this summer.
Kristen Barr, the division’s supervisor for instructional technology, said WJCC hosted a regional VDOE hub and will partner with William & Mary to create an AI ambassador program: four participants from each school will participate in a summer cohort to learn about responsible instructional use of AI and will present to peers in pre‑service. The summer cohort is grant‑funded for the initial phase and staff said they have applied for follow‑on grant funds to support the program in 2025‑26. Barr also said the division has offered family academies on AI and plans a further family session on April 16.
The student voices team recommended five next steps, including routine student advisory structures at every school, expanded leadership opportunities, professional learning on personalized feedback and restorative interventions, and research on student representation models on school boards.
Board members asked whether the division will broadly share the findings; staff said they will share summaries with participating students and consider ways to communicate the learnings more widely to schools and families as the next steps are refined.
