YATST and a team of students from the South Bronx High School of Violin and Dance (HSVD) joined forces on January 14, 2011 to present a four hour workshop on "Empowered Youth".  The plans had been for YATST participants to spend the prior day co-planning this workshop.  As winter weather would have it, the Vermont contingent was not able to get down to the city until Thursday afternoon, precluding any shared prep time.  Despite this fact, the workshop session was deemed a success (see attached comments below) and the High School of Violin and Dance team is scheming to head north to the spring VRP/YATST conference on May 13!

This workshop was part of the School Reform Initiative Winter Meeting, hosting 300 educators from around the country.  Participants are advocates for using effective facilitation strategies developed by SRI (Critical Friends Protocols) to help teachers support one another in improving their teaching practices.  Both YATST and the HSVD  have shared these methods with youth, so that they too can become effective facilitators of dialogue.  In fact, YATST hosted a two day youth training with SRI founder Daniel Baron in October to develop their competence and confidence using these protocols (see article below). These powerful strategies allow students to both initiate and participate in school decision making and school transformation.  This was the first workshop in the history of these national conferences to feature young people facilitating an entire session, using these protocols.

The YATST group, including students from Cabot, Twinfield, Hazen Union and Harwood Union, managed to weave in a bit of fun and sight seeing into the trip as well.  Immediately following the conference session, we shared a lunch with the HSVD students at Ellen's Stardust Diner - complete with singing waiters and waitresses. The picture below was taken just before our departure after lunch.

Attachments:

SRI Workshop Feedback.pdf

[SRI Conference Participant Feedback]

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HUYATSTers received an A+ according to one participant of the 2 1/2 hour student facilitated faculty in-service on January 17, 2011.  During this time period, the team 1) shared an overview of YATST, 2)  introduced the 4 Rs (rigor, relevance, relationship and shared responsibility) which serve as a foundation for YATST research and action, and 3) facilitated a preliminary data analysis of Harwood student and teacher survey data.  The A+ grade narrative read, "Your ability to facilitate this in a way where highly productive discussions took place in a short amount of time and your ability to stay on track and on time was extremely impressive. This sort of work should be the focal point of all faculty meetings!!".  These sentiments were shared by many others, as witnessed by end-of-session responses when asked for feedback about the morning and next steps teachers might be taking in their classrooms due to what they had learned:

"I think it would be great to have the activities you presented (wagon wheel, chalk talk) on your web site with directions.  Teachers could look to it when they want to "spice it up" a little.  Students could comment on their favorites."

"The data is what it is and we are all served well by it.  The data gives us an opportunity to reflect and is part of any good learning and growth (change)."

"I want to be more transparent with my classes about the what and why of my planning".

" I was surprised at the percentage of students who felt that they were not challenged.  I will work on creating more opportunities for my students to be challenged in their thinking and problem solving."

"I am committing to improving my relationships with my students."

"I am personally committed to checking in with students more effectively to ensure understanding."

"I am disturbed by the student/teacher gap in much of the data....I'll really try to engage students in more discussions about rigor and relationships".

"I think that what you are doing is noble."

"One of the best in-services I have attended!"

HUYATSTers' next steps include sharing their work with peers at a community meeting and leading a community forum to further data analysis and action planning, soliciting school board involvement.  Here is a link to a video the team made prior to the retreat to share with faculty, capturing student and teacher sentiments about youth-adult partnership:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcWRpRL3zcU&feature=related.  This video captures the faculty meeting opening activity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYK0QsgNsRM.  The final video is of the Chalk Talk activity used for the data analysis process: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqxudDCHuu4.

The Hazen Union IMAGINE Team lead their first one hour faculty meeting to introduce YATST, the concept of the 4 Rs, and offer a glimpse of their survey data results.  If faculty feedback regarding the student-led Hazen Union faculty meeting is any indication, the IMAGINE team is off to a great start!  For example.....

• "Fabulous!!  We all need a partnership!"
• "The one thing I liked best about the meeting was the students' earnest leadership, organization and good, clear speaking."
• "It's hard to select just one thing I liked best - activities were great, as were your personal stories around the 4 Rs."
• "This is a great opportunity we have at Hazen to grow and continue to reflect upon the teaching/learning process."
• "Thank you for your caring impetus for change."

The following video is a clip of the faculty meeting opening "Quote Marketplace" activity: Quote Marketplace Activity: Hazen Union

The Imagine Team will focus on in-depth data analysis at the next full faculty meeting, and begin exploring root causes and potential next steps.

The Vermont State Board of Education set aside a full hour of their November 16 board meeting to learn about YATST.  The story of Hazen Union's "Imagine Team" (YATST) was woven into the overview.  Students led the Board in several activities which define the work, including asking them to choose one of the following five reasons why young people should be involved in transformation efforts:

• Doing this work together is a RIGHT and a part of being a CITIZEN IN OUR DEMOCRACY
• Doing this work together will IMPROVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS
• Doing this work together PROMOTES OWNERSHIP
• Sharing this work RENEWS HOPE
• Through this work STUDENTS TRANSFORM FROM BEING "OBJECTS" TO BEING "INVENTORS"

Each reason above was a posted station, and included compelling quotes and statistics related to the particular point*.  Students then led small group discussions at these stations to explore the core reasons which ground the YATST initiative. We then reconvened.  The Imagine Team told the Board about the development of their 4 Rs survey (rigor, relevance, relationships and shared responsibility).  The survey was administered in actual voting booths, netting a response rate of over 90% of students and 100% of teachers.  The theme, "Your Vote; Your Voice" highlighted the importance of taking the survey and of civic engagement.

Commissioner Armando Viliseca and Assistant Commissioner Rae Ann Knopf affirmed their appreciation of the work.  The fundamental beliefs are well aligned with the State Board of Education's newly adopted Strategic Plan.  They expressed their support to further the development of YATST in Vermont.  Assistant Commissioner Knopf noted that "personalization of learning", a particular focus of DOE transformation efforts, begins with the school culture shift exemplified by YATST.

*YATST Tool Kit "Why Bother" Activity, p. 54

** Power Point presentation can be found below.

Attachments:

State School Board Presentation November 16, 2010.pdf

[VT State Board of Education Presentation - November 16, 2010]

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