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Nathan Hale students present Renaissance leadership work, cite gains in attendance and behavior
Summary
Students from Nathan Hale highlighted a Renaissance leadership program that the principal says helped lower chronic absenteeism and behavior referrals; presenters described concrete recognition programs and proposed community projects such as a Peace Garden.
Nathan Hale students and their principal presented the school’s Renaissance leadership work to the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District board on Jan. 12, saying the student-led program has helped improve attendance, reduce referrals and boost school climate.
Principal Matt Lester told the board the building’s “theory of action” focuses on increasing achievement and growth for all students and closing gaps for Black and African American students. Lester said winter testing and state report-card data show progress: building-level chronic absenteeism has fallen from about 31.7% to 18.9% compared with earlier years, and the Black/African American subgroup’s chronic absenteeism declined from roughly 50% to about 28.8%. Lester described those figures as last year’s report-card data and noted state report cards are released a year after the attendance and test results occur.
Students on the Renaissance leadership team gave specific goals and examples. They cited targets to increase honor-roll participation by 5%, reduce the number of F grades by 5%, and lower chronic absenteeism by 2%. Student presenters described programs such as faculty recognition, curbside coffee for bus drivers, student-recognition cards, a birthday board, and “high five Fridays,” which they credited with boosting engagement. One student said the program reduced behavior referrals from 671 (previous year) to 382 year-to-date, a roughly 30% reduction, which student leaders framed as evidence the recognition work is producing results.
BIPOC-affiliated student groups and a new Student Athletic Leadership Team (SALT) described outreach projects including a holiday food drive that partnered with a local church, and a planned cultural mural for the cafeteria. A student who attended district leadership training also presented a Peace Garden proposal that could be funded by PTSA and Rotary support.
Board members thanked the students and asked about how students are chosen for leadership roles; presenters described a mix of teacher recommendation, application and advisor selection. The board encouraged continued student-led initiatives and recognized Justin Kosick, the dean of students, for advising the program.
The board offered unanimous thanks and did not take any formal action; several trustees said they wanted the district to track the measurable outcomes outlined by students and staff.
