On May 14, 2025, 100 student leaders in grades 9 through 12 from across all Christina School District high schools came together at the DuPont Experimental Station for the district’s inaugural Student Summit; a student-led event designed and facilitated entirely by members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC).
Over the course of four months, the SSAC dedicated themselves to planning the day’s events, crafting breakout sessions, and developing strategies to ensure their peers had a meaningful and memorable experience. Working in partnership with a student leadership development coach from CoolSpeak, SSAC members explored their individual and collective leadership styles while also learning how to cultivate leadership in others.
The idea for the summit emerged from the council’s shared goal: to build more student leaders throughout the district. With that vision, they worked tirelessly—during and after school hours—to develop each component of the summit, from facilitation guides and engagement strategies to reflection materials and even giveaways.
Throughout the day, student-led sessions invited their peers to explore relevant and courageous topics:
- Passion and Volunteerism: Encouraging students to engage with their community and reshape perceptions about youth and school districts.
- Reimagining Capstone: Creating space for authentic student voice and offering feedback on how senior projects can better reflect diverse student experiences.
- See My POV: Facilitating honest conversations to increase understanding between students and staff by highlighting real student perspectives.
The SSAC’s leadership shone through in every detail of the summit. Their thoughtful planning, energy, and commitment to equity and voice helped ensure the day was not just informative—but transformative.
Christina School District extends deep appreciation to DuPont Experimental Station for its generous partnership. Their support and the use of multiple professional spaces on their campus made it possible to host this large-scale, high-impact event in a truly inspiring setting.
The SSAC members are already full of new ideas for next year’s Student Summit!
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCehMX
The Superintendent's Student Advisory Council (SSAC) is a group of student leaders from grades 9 through 12, selected by their schools for their demonstrated leadership potential and capacity. The SSAC works together to promote teamwork and good communication among student leaders. By sharing their ideas and opinions, these students help provide important insights that can improve our schools. Through collaboration, they discuss strategies and solutions to make school better for all students.
