203. Voice, Vision, and Value: The Student Engagement Revolution with Heather Van Benthuysen

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we welcome Heather Van Benthuysen, the Executive Director of Student Voice and Engagement at Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Chicago stands out, potentially being the first district with a role dedicated to student voice and engagement. Heather illuminates CPS's journey to place students at the heart of decision-making processes, intertwining identity, community, and relationships into an innovative instructional vision.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• The evolution of student voice initiatives from service learning committees to a broader "civic life strategy"
• The significance of data tools like the Cultivate Survey and the Elevate tool in shaping student-centric education
• The transformative impact of powerful practices and the balance between content passion and enriching learning environments

Resources:

• Connect with Heather on LinkedIn
• McCormick Foundation: mccormickfoundation.org
• StartSOLE: startsole.org

Produced by NOVA Media