Student Voice Team
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What is the Student Voice Team?
The Student Voice Team is a group of students advocating for equitable and excellent education in Hamilton County. Why have a Student Voice Team? Students have historically had few opportunities or avenues to advocate for changes they wish to see and had little voice in the decisions that impact their daily lives. The Student Voice Team changes that. |
Progress & Accomplishments
- UnifiEd’s Student Voice Team has helped elevate students’ perspectives and join the conversations that impact their education experience.
- The student members of the school board for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years were UnifiEd-trained student organizers.
- Approximately 30 high school students from across HCDE have been trained as organizers within their schools by UnifiEd staff.
- Student Voice Team member at STEM School successfully advocated for the adoption of bylaws for its Student Support Senate to clarify the group’s role and bring awareness of its purpose to more students.
- Students were a significant portion of respondents to the APEX equity survey, which identified the most urgent inequities in our schools and informed the work being undertaken by APEX Action Teams.
- The Student Voice Team worked with the school board attorney to update the system-wide bullying and harassment policy, which they had identified as the top issue affecting students during peer listening sessions and which was previously not compliant with state standards.
- The Student Voice Team has successfully implemented a student Principal Advisory Council at Lookout Valley Middle/High School and Red Bank High School.
- Students are working on implementing Principal Advisory Councils in other Hamilton County High Schools
- Students distributed surveys at the end of the 18-19 School year surveying over 450 Hamilton County students to determine what issue needs to be addressed. From this survey, it was determined that Mental Health was students top priority.
- In March 2020, our student's edits to the Hamilton County Student Suicide Prevention Policy was approved unanimously by the Hamilton County Schools Board of Education.
Projects
Blogs
Finding Our Student Voice
Fooling With The Ruling
School Board Enthusiasts
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Video SeriesLet's Get Real
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Lead Student Coordinator
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Sophia
Lead Student Coordinator at Red Bank High School Sophia.unified@gmail.com I'm passionate about learning in all subjects (especially science), as well as art, music, and reading outside of school. At Red Bank, I am the junior class president, have established the Debate Club, and am a member of Beta Club and the Book Club. My goal is to use my voice to ensure that all children in Hamilton Country have access to an excellent education and mental health services, and can fulfill their passions however they see fit. |
Student Organizers
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Amy
Student Organizer at The Howard School Amyxc.unified@gmail.com My name is Amy, and I am a rising senior at The Howard School. As the oldest of four siblings, I aspire to be a role model for them by being academically and emotionally supportive. After I graduate, I plan to attend Columbia University and major in business and fine arts. I plan to become an entrepreneur and use any financial gains to help as many people as possible. I currently work at Lookout Mountain Conservancy. They provide many benefits such as scholarships, leadership and communication skills, tutoring, job shadowing, and much more; the program has made me the person I am today. I am honored to be part of the Unified Student Voice Team because using my voice could impact young people. I always encourage myself to express myself, regardless of how reserved I am. Transforming into an open-minded and adventurous person made me want to live my life like there is no tomorrow. As I wake up each morning, the quote my father once told me, “When you get out of bed, remind yourself: are you living life or just being alive?", always comes to mind. |
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Jerald
Student Organizer at STEM School Jerald.unified@gmail.com I am a sophomore from STEM School of Chattanooga with interests in the technological field. I'm involved in various groups like Robotics, Electric Car Club, Technology Student Association (TSA), Scouts BSA, ACT-SO, and Youth Court. Through the Step Up (PEF) program, I became acquainted with UnifiEd and with this opportunity. I strive to work as an advocate for specific issues and concerns within the community. As a lifelong learner, I’ve experienced a lack of interest when learning throughout my years of attending school. Commonly, students tend to see school as a place of repetitive and tedious learning which misrepresents the intended purpose of the concept itself. My goal is to make school not only a place for immersive learning but an enjoyable and safe environment with limitless possibilities and opportunities accessible to all students. |
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Kaitlyn
Student Organizer at Signal Mountain Middle/High Kaitlyn.unified@gmail.com I am a sophomore at Signal Mountain Middle/High School. I have an interest in STEM, international politics, and music. I'm also involved in Model UN, Technology Student Association (TSA), and Band. I moved to Tennessee when I was in 5th grade, and I was blown away by all the opportunities and academics available. Unfortunately, I know many others may not have the same access to such resources. I want to help other students in Hamilton county attain these same opportunities as well as elevate their voices and concerns within the community. |
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Kaylea
Student Organizer at Tyner Academy Kayleam.unified@gmail.com I am Kaylea, a senior at Tyner Academy. After high school, I hope to attend Howard University and major in political science with a minor in childhood education or international relations. I am an aspiring politician with the goal of becoming a diplomat, senator, and eventually the First African Female President. The government has always struck my interest because of the profession’s responsibilities and the lack of African American women in the field. We need more black representation in the government, and I desire to help normalize people of color in governmental occupations. My long-term aspiration is to start an academic and social non-profit for African American girls K-12. I am an ambitious, self-motivated, hard-working leader and star honor roll student. I am the Valedictorian and President of my class for Tyner Academy. I am also involved in the National Achievers Society at the Urban League, Delta GEMS, and the Tyner Academy Cheerleading Team leader. Being enrolled in the Teaching and Learning Future Ready Institute, I tutor 1st graders at Bess T. Shepherd Elementary for work-based learning. Being a part of the Unified Student Voice Team is an amazing opportunity. My goal is to incorporate more ideas to help the inner center schools and minority students in Hamilton County. I strive always to be the help my community needs. |