JACKSON, Wyo. — School has returned to session, and a new group of students representing each Teton County school has come together to form the second annual Student Senate.
As a participant of Governor Mark Gordon’s RIDE Initiative, Teton County School District #1 (TCSD) is working to provide more opportunities to put students at the center of their own learning. TCSD’s Interim Superintendent Scott Crisp is one of the leaders of Student Senate, along with Jackson High School senior and student program leader Jenna Yarrow. Four other seniors — Luisa Sartillo Mejia, Diego Gonzalez-Corona, Georgiana Mueller and Nairi Escobar Sanchez — hold leadership support roles. Crisp gave Buckrail the rundown on the background of this educational opportunity as well as the key purposes of the 55-member student body.
“Our goal this year is to focus on how to strengthen student connection in our schools; how can we all have different views on different topics and yet remain tolerant and respectful when we disagree with each other,” Crisp explained. “We also are looking at how we can make sure classmates feel included and support each other. We really feel like those are big topics, not only in our schools but in our world.”
The students, between fifth and twelfth grade, hail from all 10 of the district’s schools, including Alta, Moran, Kelly and seven Jackson schools. The group had its first meeting on Thursday and will meet three more times this school year.
The students were bussed to the TCSD office from their respective schools for a 2.5-hour meeting to discuss the meanings of connection, tolerance and collaboration. At the following meetings, they will work together to develop a goal that incorporates all of those aspects, with the intention of putting their ideas into action alongside district staff.
“Part of senate is also the process of learning how to work with each other, how to determine a goal together, how to implement a goal together,” Crisp said. “And I think that’s hard to do, whether you’re a student or adult.”
There is no formal process to join the senate. Last year’s inaugural group of students was asked to return this year, and individual schools recruited new students who showed interest in joining. Crisp views his role as an educator to be one of guidance in helping students take the next steps, but he is committed to letting the students be at the center of the decision making.
“I have to say, I’m very impressed with the articulation of our younger students that are in the group,” he said. “It’s not surprising, but to hear a fifth grader discuss the importance of being tolerant of each other’s views is really powerful.”
