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Students and staff highlight Higley Leadership Academy and first superintendent's advisory council
Summary
Students and staff presented the inaugural superintendent's advisory council report and recognized participants in the Higley Leadership Academy, describing leadership development, college exposure and priorities students identified for district improvement.
Board members heard reports from the Higley Leadership Academy and the superintendent's inaugural student advisory council, which presented findings and recommendations gathered from students across the district.
The board recognized several student and staff awardees and program participants, including Higley High students awarded a Chinese language scholarship and multiple performing-arts and career-technical state champions. Leaders noted the district hosted a fine-arts festival and recognized Cooley Middle School and Williams Field ensembles for state-level honors.
The superintendent's advisory council presentation was led by students from across the district who described council activities, site visits (including Chandler-Gilbert Community College and the ASU Mix Center), and the council's priorities. Students said the council spent months developing a "portrait of a graduate" and produced recommendations that included: increased emphasis on teaching the significance of GPA and state testing to younger students; more visible post-graduation and trade-school pathways (including EVIT and community college exposure); better highlighting of non-athletic extracurriculars; expanded life-skills instruction (financial literacy, taxes, bills); mental-health awareness earlier in grades; more interactive learning opportunities; and professional-development supports for substitute teachers.
Students said there were 19 members on the superintendent's advisory council, representing elementary through high school. Several students voiced that the experience increased their confidence and sense that student voices are "heard" by district leadership.
Ending: Board members thanked the students and staff and noted the presentations will inform district programming and professional development planning.
