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High schoolers advocate for Rutherford County Schools at Leadership Lab in Raleigh Article compiled by Jean Gordon. Rutherford County Schools Photos.
advocacy,” Street said. While in Raleigh, students attended a portion of the State Twelve juniors and seniors from Board of Education meeting where Rutherford County Schools recently they were recognized by the board, participated in The Leadership Lab interacted with state legislators, and in Raleigh taking their voices beyond North Carolina Department of Public the classroom and into the heart of Instruction employees. Students met leadership in Raleigh, said Meredith with Senior Director of the Advanced Street, R-S District K-12 AIG Learning Department, Sneha ShahSpecialist and planner/coordinator for Coltrane and her entire staff; Geoff the two-day trip. Other staff attending Coltrane, former Governor Roy were Allison Tate and Gail Wilkins, Cooper’s education advisor and AIG Specialists for the East District current Senior Director of Legislative and CHASE district respectively; Affairs to the State Superintendent. Ritchie Garland coordinator for the “Our students were able to spend Shown are the students and leadersfront row (left to right): Andrew Sutton, Colby Seigla, department and Superintendent Dr. over an hour with North Carolina Layla Lancaster, Gracelyn Lail, Ava Garland. Second rowMeredith Street, Allison Tate, Kaylee David Sutton. State Superintendent Mo Greene Ash, Abigail Thompson, Adriana Tartaglia, Savannah Hodge, Sarah Webber, Dawson Loving, Street said the trip was a who answered their questions, collaborative effort from the AIG Superintendent Dr. David Sutton, Representative Jake Johnson. Third row- Karen Davis, Gail Wilkins. listened to their experiences, and Department staff and “something we shared his goals for the future of said Street. how to be a leader and grow my leadership have been wanting to implement for a long “Each student spoke from the heart, skills and to advocate for what I believe in public education in the state,” Street said. time.” Students also explored the State Capitol sharing personal stories, aspirations, and and I will remember that experience for a Students attending were: from R-S a deep belief in the value of education,” long time.” and museums connected to Advanced Central High School: Savannah Hodge she continued. “They didn’t just represent Kaylee Ash, 11th grader from CHASE Placement coursework. Representative (12th grade), Colby Seigla (12th grade), themselves, they represented their said, “The trip was so inspirational and Jake Johnson joined students for a guided Andrew Sutton (11th grade), Gracelyn peers, their schools, and the future of our I’m so happy that I was able to have this tour of the Legislative Building, took Lail (11th grade); Adriana Tartaglia (11th community. Their courage, passion, and opportunity to advocate for Rutherford students on the house floor, and answered grade) and Layla Lancaster (11th grade); authenticity remind us all why student voice County schools and other rural public questions they had regarding state from East Rutherford: Sarah Webber, (11th matters. We couldn’t be more proud of the school systems all across North Carolina.” government, bipartisanship, and the future grade), from Chase: Kaylee Ash (11th way they stepped up, spoke out, and made Abigail Thompson, also an 11th grader of education funding from the General grade), Abigail Thompson (11th grade), an impact.” at CHASE added, “Traveling to Raleigh for Assembly. Ava Garland (12th grade) and Dawson “Leadership Lab thus far has been a Sarah Webber, 11th grade student from our Leadership Lab was an eye-opening Loving (11th grade). East Rutherford said, “I was really fortunate experience. It helped me better understand meaningful opportunity for our AP Academy The AP Academy juniors and seniors met to be able to go on the trip. It widened my how decisions are made and showed me students to grow as leaders, connect with state legislators, representatives from perspective since I often feel too small to the importance of staying informed and with peers, and realize the importance the North Carolina Department of Public make a change, and although nothing is using my voice to support public education.” their voice has in shaping the future for Instruction and State Superintendent Mo guaranteed to happen, I felt good about The Leadership Lab component of themselves and the students who follow Greene to advocate for public education and our advocacy. I’m looking forward to more AP Academy was created to provide a them,” Street said. expanded advanced learning opportunities, opportunities like this in the future.” She added the two day trip consisted of so focused cohort experience designed to Street said. Savannah Hodge, R-S Central senior build leadership and advocacy skills. The many “special moments from watching the “What made today truly powerful wasn’t said, “The Raleigh trip really taught me the cohort of 11 juniors and seniors have been Artemis II launch together on a cellphone just where they went, it was what they said,” hard work that goes into the decisions that engaged in research and leadership skill in the hotel lobby, one of our students are made...it taught me development connected to their Advanced finding out she received teaching fellows to Placement coursework and Appalachian State University while in the student-driven interest within room with the State Superintendent, and public education throughout the another student receiving acceptance into a prestigious school of the arts in NYC.” school year, Street explained. Street said the cohort has great The cohort had an emphasis based on their interest admiration for the work their teachers do in advocacy for advanced learning and the support that they receive, and they opportunities and experiences for recognize the challenges public education rural students and public school currently faces that has impacted their experiences. funding. “Their advocacy was self-directed and “The trip to Raleigh was an opportunity for students to it was touching to see the many ways that engage with policy leaders in public education has touched their lives and Raleigh as advocates for public the lives of their family. I wish every teacher education in our great state and who supports them could have heard the give them the chance to see how comments made in support of their work educational policy is determined by the students throughout the course of State Superintendent Mo Greene and impacted at a state-wide this cohort’s experience and witnessed with Leadership Lab team member level. Their work has consisted of the emotional impact our students created Rep. Jake Johnson addresses the Rutherford County team. Ava Gardner. local and statewide research and through advocacy.”
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