This article explores how students, staff, and administrators can shape school culture by embracing storytelling, empowering voices, and working together as co-authors of their community's narrative. Through real experiences, including student-led assemblies and the creation of a school slogan, it highlights the lasting impact of giving individuals the microphone to share who they are and what they hope to build.
Whether we are staff members, administrators, or students, we can all contribute to the stories of our schools. In our own special ways, we have the ability to build culture, change culture, and write chapters we are proud of. When we know that our schools are making a difference for our students, change can be made and felt well beyond the walls of our buildings.
Over the last several years, we have experienced unforeseen challenges. We have also found gold, sparking new pages ready to be filled. We will continue to face challenges inside our school communities and certainly in our world, yet what I have learned since 2020 is wrapped up in the following lessons. I can still feel the impact as significant work has followed in the path of powerful footprints I will write more about soon. For that, I am grateful and certainly hopeful.
Hand Students and Staff the Actual Mic
A couple of years ago, the middle school where I taught at the time was aching for an event to unite us and increase empathy. Through collaboration with colleagues and our No Place for Hate club, we held four grade-level assemblies. Teaming with my principal and one-of-a-kind nurse, we made sure anyone wishing to share something about who they are was given the opportunity.
Whether it was through video, writing, singing, or speaking their truth, administrators, staff members, and students took down their masks and let courage take the spotlight. The only sound from the audience came from clapping hands and cheers as we witnessed people tell their history, challenges, and hopes. We often invite guests to come into our schools and share their stories, but we must never forget the power in taking the stage and sharing our own.
The assemblies were titled No Place for Hate, Our Words Have Power, thanks to one incredible conversation with our METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity) director. She not only took the stage to challenge students to reach out to their classmates and try something new, but also called on high school students to record their stories for all of us to hear.
Create a School Slogan
After hearing JC Pohl from Teen Truth speak a few summers ago, I couldn’t get the word slogan out of my head. Luckily, my principal was present for the same keynote and was committed to collectively creating one. For us, Our Stories Have Power organically grew into a phrase soon after the assemblies. The most common theme we heard, saw, and felt — it represents a journey that over the last few years has brought our school together in ways we couldn’t have predicted. Now, our slogan exists everywhere. On every agenda book, in email signatures, classroom doors, our school Instagram, and more.
Invite Students to be Your Co-Authors
Every moment of every day, we have the opportunity to ignite a better future. The children in front of us will one day be leading us. We have a responsibility to tap into their strengths and give them the confidence that they all have something to contribute. In my experience, this starts with asking them to lead with us. Based on an activity JC Pohl shared, students are asked to imagine the ideal school. While holding a leadership summit at the end of the year, we asked students from across grade levels this question: What would you want in your ideal school? This is what they said.
- Education on marginalized groups and actions we can take
- Mental health in education
- Asking for our feedback
- Time to learn and talk about current events
- Support to be who we are
- More time outside
- More hands-on learning
- Encouraging, positive, and welcoming walls
- Lots of space to learn
- Spreading more kindness
A few student leaders met with colleagues who signed up to work with them soon after they created this list with a goal of prioritizing and putting it into action. When we give kids a voice, we write our story with them, and what a better place we create when they are co-authors.
"Never pass on the opportunity to say something great about your school." - Joe Sanfelippo
Anyone who has heard Joe Sanfelippo speak has felt his energy and passion around the power in sharing our school stories. The past several years have been challenging. Our next chapter and the chapters that follow matter. I am hopeful you will not only contribute to yours but share it like crazy. I plan to do the same.
About the Author:
Nili Bartley is currently a personalized learning coach in Natick, MA. After an eleven-year adventure in the classroom, Nili’s technology integration role at the elementary level for the next three years pushed her to see the importance of a thriving culture and led her to write “Lead Beyond Your Title: Creating Change in School from Any Role.” Since then, Nili has been a middle school specialist and digital learning coach and is now embracing her new role on a district-wide team. An enthusiastic presenter, she is committed to sharing her passions beyond the school community and is always excited to connect with other educators.
