Amplifying Student Voice to Improve School Culture and Climate

Presented by Elissa Dornan, Director of Behavioral Health and MTSS, Bethel School District (WA); Kelley Boynton, Executive Director of Elementary Schools, Bethel School District (WA); Chad Honig, Executive Director of Secondary Schools, Bethel School District (WA); and Melissa Pointer, Director of Social-Emotional Learning, Highline Public Schools (WA)
Moderated by Lauren Latto, Account Director, Panorama Education

Sponsored by Panorama Education

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Engaged students are more likely to achieve academically, attend class regularly, and stay in school. Students themselves are perhaps the best source of information about whether they feel engaged by their teachers and classwork. To tap into this data, schools need a valid and reliable way to gather feedback from students about their learning environments and relationships at school. Additionally, districts that collect this data also look for ways to help educators take action to promote student engagement.

Watch this edLeader Panel to hear from schools that are leveraging Panorama data and resources to make meaningful strides toward a school climate in which students can excel. Together, we explore:

• How to measure student voice in a reliable and valid way
• Using data to identify trends and areas of improvement
• Methods for monitoring the impact on culture and climate
• Interventions and strategies that all school leaders can leverage

This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to K-12 school and district leaders, education technology leaders, and teachers.

About the Presenters

Elissa Dornan currently serves the Bethel School District as the Director for Behavioral Health and MTSS. Elissa began her career 28 years ago as a classroom teacher in the Puyallup School District. For 18 years, she taught first through third grades, mentored teachers, and served as a demonstration teacher for the district. Elissa has served in other roles such as instructional coach, associate administrator, building principal, and director of special services. She is happily married to her husband of 25 years and a proud mother of two incredible daughters, one at Washington State University and the other at Boise State University.

Kelley Boynton has over 15 years of combined experience as a middle- and elementary-level school administrator. As principal, Kelley developed leadership in others to support focused collaboration resulting in numerous awards and recognition for performance in both ELA and mathematics. Kelley serves as the Executive Director for Elementary Schools in the Bethel School District, where he helps support and supervise 18 elementary school principals. He has partnered with multiple curriculum publishers to help author and deliver professional development for school leaders. Additionally, Kelley teaches courses focused on leadership for school improvement for the University of Washington’s Principal Certification Program.

Chad Honig has a decade of experience as an elementary-level school administrator. As principal, he developed systems for collaboration and focused on shared leadership resulting in recognition for performance in both ELA and mathematics. Chad serves as the Executive Director for Secondary Schools in the Bethel School District, where he helps support and supervise 11 secondary school principals. Additionally, Chad teaches courses focused on leadership for school improvement for the University of Washington’s Principal Certification Program.

Melissa Pointer is the Director of Social-Emotional Learning in the Highline School District, just outside of Seattle. Prior to that, Melissa served as an elementary principal for 11 years and a high school associate principal for four years. In her current role, Melissa is leading her team in elevating student voice as they engage in a community advisory process with Highline students, staff, families, and community for the purpose of auditing their current SEL practices and instructional material and getting input from families and community on their hopes for SEL instruction. This information will be used to determine the degree to which SEL instruction is meeting the needs of students and community and to determine ways they can build the program in a way that is reflective and representative of the community. Input from a wide range of stakeholders will inform the future of SEL in HPS.

About the Moderator

Lauren Latto lives in Portland, OR and works as an Account Director at Panorama Education, supporting large school districts in Washington, Oregon, and Colorado. Prior to her time at Panorama, Lauren worked for a professional learning company and served as Dean of Curriculum and Instruction and a proud seventh-grade English teacher at a middle school in Brooklyn.

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Panorama Education partners with K-12 schools and districts across the country to collect and analyze data about social-emotional learning, school climate, family engagement, and more. With research-backed surveys and a leading technology platform, Panorama helps educators act on data and improve student outcomes. Panorama supports 15 million students in 21,000 schools and 1,500 districts across 50 states.