Build a Safe School Climate & Increase Student Engagement with Student Voice Initiatives!

Learn how to use student voice activities to assess, measure and address the critical issues impacting school climate and student engagement. Come discover how to empower youth leadership to engage students to gather data and work alongside the PBIS/MTSS Team, School Safety Team and the School Climate Committee to address the critical issues impacting their school climate. The PLUS Program, an evidence-based Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) model will be shared as a tool for schools to utilize as part of their action plans. When we stop doing the research on the students, and let the students do the research on themselves, we find effective Solutions!
Overview
The training will share strategies on how to build an Evidence Based Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) program that aligns with LCAP objectives and goals.
Participants will learn how to:
- Target core campus issues impacting School Climate, using sources of quantitative and qualitative data to implement effective interventions.
- Utilize Student Voice as a source of program development that includes LCAP, PBIS/MTSS, School Safety Plans and Mental Wellness planning for all students
- Strategies that Built an Evidence Based Student Leadership program to increase student engagement
- Align Program Development with district LCAP plans Learn how to use a set of activities and data gathering tools to find Qualitative and Quantitative data to drive decision making process.
Trainer: John Vandenburgh
John has spent a career working in education and the field of youth development. He has been a teacher, school site administrator and district safe school coordinator. The hands on experience of working in the field of youth development and safe schools has led to several programs and products now being used by schools and communities nationwide.
John is the author of the Evidenced Based PLUS Program, a youth participatory action research curriculum that is being utilized by schools nation wide to gather data to address bullying, cyberbullying and building safer environments for all students to be included in. His most recent work includes developing the Direction Survey and Resource Database for schools and communities to utilize to trend youth behavior.
Some of the organizations John has presented his work to include:
- Office of Homeland Security
- California Attorney General Gang Summit
- National Youth at Risk Center
- California School Resource Officers’ Association
- Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs
- Urban Superintendents of America Association
