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“student rights”

Listening to Student Voices

It was six years ago, and I still remember the moment vividly. I was on lunch duty visiting with students when I was invited into a conversation with some students of color. What were they discussing? White privilege. They asked for my perspective as a white male. I said that I never felt privileged, as […]

The Value in Student Protest

At Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, CO, you could say we’re victims of our own success when it comes to student protests. One thing we emphasize in our school is that students need to have a voice. In the grand scheme of things, the school is their school. It’s not my school, it’s not […]

Chuck Puga Headshot

Why Student Protests Are a Valuable Learning Opportunity

At Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, CO, you could say we’re victims of our own success when it comes to student protests. One thing we emphasize in our school is that students need to have a voice. In the grand scheme of things, the school is their school. It’s not my school, it’s not […]

Student Centered: December 2021

The importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) has grown exponentially and emerged as an educational priority amid the ever-increasing signs of stress and trauma students are experiencing. As school leaders, we need to create and embody the SEL framework in every aspect of our practice. Throughout history and all over the world, the arts have served […]

Supporting Students as Civic Leaders

The world has no shortage of problems. My generation, Gen Z, is being handed a society that is grappling with wealth inequality, voter suppression, healthcare injustice, climate crises, and much more. Especially during this pandemic, the future has never seemed so bleak and hopeless.

LGBTQ+ Students and Educators

Purpose: To affirm support for the rights, safety, and identity of all LGBTQ+ students, educators, and school leaders; acknowledge historic marginalization and institutional bias associated with LGBTQ+ individuals; state the association’s opposition to legislation and policies that discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals; and provide recommendations for federal, state, and local policymakers and school leaders on how […]

Supporting Students of Color

In the movies, the hero is a reflection of the triumph of individual character over the challenge of circumstances. As a society, we have internalized our love for this theme so much that we look for it in our everyday lives by ascribing this narrative to our personal and professional success. In embracing this idea, […]

Reengage Students Through Project-Based Learning

A recent report from the Rockefeller Institute of Government paints a grim picture of school turnaround efforts nationwide, noting that most have failed. At Brighton High School, part of Boston Public Schools in Brighton, MA, we’re bucking that trend. Since 2016, when Brighton High School fell into “Level 4” status—a state designation that requires the […]

Leading By Example: How School Principals Can Support LGBTQ Students

The following interview first appeared on the Human Rights Campaign website as a guest post contribution. As equality and acceptance continue to be top of mind for many, many school leaders continue to ask what else they can be doing to support students who face discrimination within the classroom. Ashton Mota, HRC Youth Ambassador and […]