Friday Focus Workshop to Highlight Student Voice

The future of education is best shaped when the voices of those it directly impacts are included, heard, and valued. School board members are making decisions on behalf of students every day, and this year, IASB offers a workshop designed to support board members’ connections with these precious stakeholders – our students.

A Friday Focus Workshop, “Breaking Down the Walls: Bringing Student Voice to the Board Table,” will be presented by Phil Boyte, culture coach and founder of Learning for Living, on Friday, November 17, in conjunction with the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago.

Boyte’s program is a unique opportunity for student leaders and board members to connect, share stories, and realize “it's hard to hate someone whose story you know.” The full-day workshop will include breakout sessions for student leaders from across the state to connect and for board members to develop governance best practices to give students a voice at the table.

The full-day workshop begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, a Conference co-headquarters hotel. Continental breakfast (8-9 a.m.) and lunch (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) will feature student musical performances and are included in the registration fee.

Registration for the workshop is open to all school board members attending the Joint Annual Conference. Board member registrants are encouraged to invite student board members, ambassadors, or representatives for the day of team and culture building. However, student representation is not required for board members to attend the workshop.

Upon conclusion of the workshop, registered student leaders are also invited to attend the Conference Opening Session from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

The 2023 Joint Annual Conference will take place November 17-29. Registration remains open. The final day to register at reduced early-bird rates is October 13. Check the Conference webpage for updates or follow along on our social media channels using #ILjac23 for the latest.