Lights, Camera, Leadership: Empowering Students Through News, the Arts, and Authentic Leadership

What happens when students are given a microphone, a needle and thread, and a seat at the table? Discover how we are building a student-driven school culture by placing leadership in students' hands through media, the arts, and authentic decision-making opportunities. This session highlights collaborative literacy-based art projects connecting middle and elementary students, a fully student-produced weekly news platform focusing on research, reporting, special episodes, and videography, and the intentional structures that elevate student voice in meaningful conversations about school improvements, budgeting priorities, and campus decisions. Participants will gain practical strategies to foster ownership, amplify student voice, and create leadership experiences that go beyond traditional roles to make a lasting impact on school culture.