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Author: Gail Fox and Kerry Birmingham/Wednesday, November 15, 2023/Categories: News
Gail Fox, director of communications, Berrien Springs (Mich.) Public Schools and Kerry Birmingham, former director of communications, Troy (Mich.) School District (currently director of communications at Detroit Country Day School)
Michelle Nartey is a busy, active senior at Athens High School in Troy, Michigan. She’s a member of the National Honor Society, a competitive gymnast and a published singer/songwriter. She is also a student content creator for the Troy School District.
“When it comes to anything associated with school communications, it’s important to have a space for student voices to be represented and heard,” said Nartey. “These are the voices to which everything is being delivered. They are the ones who receive the education from the district and explore it in various ways. Students truly play a vital role in it all!”
Berrien Springs High School Communications & Media teacher Kendra Smith agrees. She says that featuring the unique perspectives that students bring to district communications builds confidence and engagement. “Offering students authentic opportunities adds more meaning to their work and also boosts their enthusiasm for learning when they can see their work in print or online, or hear their voices on the radio,” says Smith.
Troy and Berrien Springs (Mich.) are two districts that have prioritized elevating student voice in school communications in the last decade. Years of lessons learned in both districts have produced some tried and true tips that can help you elevate student voice in your communication plan.
Starting the Journey: Engaging Student Voices
Students aren’t the only ones who benefit from this type of collaboration. There are significant benefits to busy school communications professionals as well. Working with student collaborators allows you to produce more content while broadening your audience and extending the reach of your messaging—without significant budget increases. It’s a win/win when you put a few simple steps in place.
Begin with Baby Steps: Raising the profile of student voice in your school communications doesn't require a massive overhaul. Begin with one or two students and let them be part of the program creation process. Let them use whatever their interests are—in video, photography, graphics, writing or other creative outlets—to develop one or two projects to help you get started.
Scouting for Student Contributors: Also look beyond the classroom to find students who can contribute to your communication efforts. Athletic events, plays, music performances and learning showcases are places where you can connect with potential student creators.
Expanding Your Program
Grow Organically: Encourage your student volunteers to recruit their peers. Give your student creators credit and showcase their work on platforms they already use (Instagram, YouTube, website, district newspaper, etc.) The best recruitment strategy is success. Once students see the work their friends are doing, they will want to be a part of your efforts as well.
Grow with Purpose: Communication and mentorship are critical. Help your students to understand the "why" behind district projects. If you have a communication plan for a particular project, share the plan with them or meet with them to review the plan and details of the project.
Ke Le Whitfield, a Berrien Springs High School freshman, says the process of collaborating with district leaders to create an ad to recruit new students to the district offered real world lessons. “I learned that you will have to do a ton of revisions to make things up to the standard of the district,” says Whitfield. “The design changes to suit the consumer of the design.”
When You're Not the Expert
Build Collaborative Networks: Recognize the limits of your expertise and build partnerships with teachers, staff, alumni, local media and even students to help you with projects where you might not have the skills to lead.
The Power of Letting Go
Handing the reins to students can lead to great results. This approach not only increases community outreach but also provides invaluable experience to students. Let students learn from you—and don’t be afraid to learn from them as well.
Sonia Puri, a 2023 Troy High graduate now studying film at DePaul says being a student creator was integral to her success in college. “I learned how to work in a creative field and collaborate with my boss,” says Puri. “I worked really close with Mr. Butcher (a key member of the Troy Communications Department) on tons of projects and the ability to creatively open myself up to an “authority figure” is something that I do on a daily basis now. I’m so glad I had the practice.”
Harnessing Affordable Resources
Utilize free and low-cost resources like these to maximize the impact of student-driven communications.
The Immeasurable Returns
The return on investing in student voice extends beyond tangible metrics. By involving students in communications, your school's outreach becomes more extensive and relevant. Students gain real-world experience, and the community sees a more authentic and diverse school representation.
“It makes me feel important in a way,” says BSHS student Whitfield. “I'm influencing the image of how people see Berrien Springs Public Schools because of the designs I create. It also makes me feel seen and helps that the designs, the pieces of art I create, are looked at and acknowledged.”
For examples of student work, please click on the hyperlinks in the article. For more information, please contact Gail Fox gfox@homeoftheshamrocks.org or Kerry Birmingham kbirmingham@dcds.edu.
Looking for additional ways to elevate student voice? Check out some additional resources below.
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