Davenport schools highlight student-led Youth Leadership Teams to boost emotional safety and belonging

At a Davenport Community School District board meeting, district staff described Youth Leadership Teams that bring student voice into school decision-making to improve emotional safety, relationships and engagement across elementary, middle and high schools.

Courtney Olson, executive director of Equity and Learning Supports, said the district’s Youth Leadership Team work “started with our work around crisis response, violent prevention about 5 years ago,” and remains connected to district goals for student safety, engagement and connection.

The teams meet monthly and are intentionally designed to represent the diversity of each building. Staff described a challenge-based decision-making model—engage, investigate, act and reflect—that student teams use to identify problems, propose solutions and evaluate results. Olson said the teams have informed district work ranging from conditions-for-learning surveys to high-school schedule feedback and attendance initiatives.

Presenters from three buildings described local projects. Cara Pha, instructional coach at Smart Junior High, said her team has…