Students Are Stakeholders, Too!: Including Every Voice in Authentic High School Reform

Students are Stakeholders Too uses a semi-fictionalized narrative to paint a picture of how an ordinary school, with only its existing resources, can engage students and create a student-learning-centered culture. Every person in this story is modeled after a real person (or many) that Holcomb has seen in action. The school in the book is a composite of several real-life settings the author has visited, incorporating other personal observations and documented sources. Holcomb's intention is to show what can happen when a principal begins to seek out student voices and open doors for greater interaction among adults and students. The foundation for the book is based on her belief that students can help us shape better schools and in doing so, they will learn lessons that will help them shape a better world.</p> <p></p> <p>The book features "Questions for Reflection" and "Content for Consideration" at the end of each chapter, as well as Epilogues from a Principal, Graduate, Student Leader, Future Teacher and Author. The epilogues that close the book were co-written with some of the actual persons upon whom the book's characters are based. Their reflections reveal the real-world challenges that are inherent in change.

Gives hope to those trying to implement a student-focused culture and offers practical advice on what steps to take.-Donald Poplau, Principal, Mankato East High School, MN

Profound, yet simple and easy to implement. A timely book with great implications for schools trying to meet NCLB.-Gina Marx, Assistant Superintendent, Augusta Public Schools, KS

Including students in schoolwide decisions helps them shape their future

Based on real events that have yielded positive results for both school culture and student achievement, this inspiring story introduces the students and staff of Knownwell High School and involves you in their journey of school improvement.

Students Are Stakeholders Too captures students' uncanny insights in their own words and illustrates how a responsive principal involves all student segments, creates an audience for their ideas and suggestions, and engages their authentic participation with staff in decision making. Using only existing resources, educators can practice real democracy within their school community by inviting students to discuss their interests, needs, and preferences about school matters.

This resource outlines eight levels of student participation, provides questions for reflection, and introduces Content for Consideration sections drawn from research on high school reform, challenging the beliefs and practices of individual readers and collaborative groups of educators.

Edie L. Holcomb provides school leaders with practical strategies for promoting greater interaction between adults and students through every phase of the school improvement process.

Learn how you can involve all student segments, create an audience for their ideas and suggestions, and engage their authentic participation with staff in the school improvement process.