Students from FDR and Thomas Edison outline school inclusion efforts at Jefferson Elementary board meeting

Franklin D. Roosevelt and Thomas Edison students and principals described programs their schools use to promote inclusion and a sense of belonging at a Jefferson Elementary School District board meeting.

At Franklin D. Roosevelt, Principal Aubrey Duffy said the school serves about 280 students, nearly one in four of whom receive special education services. Duffy described strategies including universal design for learning, small-group instruction and mainstreaming students into general education classes when appropriate. “We prioritize autonomy, meaningful participation, and ensuring students are learning alongside peers whenever appropriate,” Duffy said.

Speech-language pathologist Wes Cole described supports for students with communication needs and efforts to teach peers how to interact and include others. Student leaders described classroom roles that reinforce peer support: eighth-grader Jewel Ocampo said she helps classmates “with learning activities, sometimes in small groups and sometimes in bigger groups,” and that being a teacher assistant taught her leadership and patience.

Christina Sanchez, principal of Thomas Edison Elementary School, introduced the school’s student leadership, welcome advisory and art committees. Student speakers explained the advisory’s work welcoming new students — offering tours, welcome letters and pins — and described how those steps reduce anxiety for students who are new to the school.

Trustees praised the presentations and presented certificates to the student speakers. The boards’ remarks linked the student work to district priorities on inclusion and social-emotional learning.

The meeting moved on after presentations; the board encouraged the students to stay for further announcements but released them as needed.