Student Advisory Board members describe their work, Teen Town Hall and efforts to boost enrollment
Loading...
Summary
Student Advisory Board members from Scottsdale Unified District (4240) explain SAB’s role connecting students to district leaders, describe subcommittees and Teen Town Hall, and spotlight teachers who influenced them.
Fiona Riley, a senior at Saguaro High School and president of the Student Advisory Board, hosted a student-led episode of the SUSD Spotlight podcast in which SAB members described the board’s role, outreach events and priorities.
"A union of student leaders that are looking to, both make a change, and just have a voice, within SUSD," said Max Lehi, an eleventh grader at Desert Mountain High School and the student advisory board president-elect, defining the board’s purpose and noting that SAB gives students direct access to district officials such as Superintendent Dr. Menzel and other leaders.
The conversation emphasized SAB’s committee structure and program goals. Max said he serves on the student culture and climate subcommittee, which pursues initiatives to make students and staff feel appreciated and supports the district’s stated goal to grow enrollment. To help achieve that, members described plans for an expanded eighth-grade shadowing program that would allow students from many feeder schools to experience SUSD high schools.
Ashni, a junior at Saguaro High School and SAB governor, described the college and career readiness subcommittee’s work to help students explore college, trade school and other postsecondary options: "It's somewhere that could really help other kids and even myself," she said.
Riley explained she is on the technology and communications subcommittee and called the group an important pipeline for student ideas to reach district staff. On outreach, members discussed Teen Town Hall, an annual event held at each high school that brings panels of district staff (from technology to facilities) and student leaders together to solicit questions and feedback from the student body.
Members highlighted the district’s cross-school programs — including HOSA, nursing and biotech — and said site administrators are responsive channels for students to raise concerns and suggestions. The episode also included personal shoutouts to teachers and staff: Max praised Mr. Becker at Desert Mountain, Ashni named Miss Milligan and Miss Bonds among her science teachers, and Riley acknowledged Mr. Brandt, who she said has been at Saguaro for 41 years.
The episode concluded with Riley inviting listeners to subscribe to SUSD Spotlight and pitch topics for future student-hosted episodes. No formal district actions, votes or policy changes were announced during the conversation; the episode focused on student experiences and SAB activities.
