Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts announced Dec. 3 that an online application is now available for students wishing to serve on the new Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. This new Student Advisory Council is a unique opportunity for middle and high school students to share feedback, experiences, and perspectives on a variety of issues affecting students, schools, and communities with Superintendent Watts. The goal for the Council’s membership is that it will be comprised of two students representing each Gwinnett middle and high school.
Superintendent Watts is excited to launch this new advisory council. He says, “We know that our schools are filled with leaders and we have a number of groups that allow me to hear from many of those individuals, including our teachers, parents, and community leaders. However, there was one glaring omission… our students. Through the creation of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, I am looking forward to meeting and learning from our students. Through this Council, students will be able to voice their ideas, share suggestions for improving our schools and the district, and to act as thought leaders as they build their leadership capacity.”
Potential applicants for the Student Advisory Council are students who are concerned about the needs of all students and have a desire to ensure Gwinnett County Public Schools is focused on improvement. In addition, Dr. Watts is seeking students who will express views and opinions honestly, openly, constructively, and respectfully; who work collaboratively with others; and who have a willingness to offer suggestions and input on areas for improvement on a wide range of topics (such as educational equity, curriculum, educational programming, facility usage, school climate, etc.).
The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council will meet three times during second semester:
Saturday, Jan. 22—8:30 to 10 a.m. for Middle School and 10:30 a.m. to noon for High School
Both meetings will take place in the Training Center at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center (ISC), located at 437 Old Peachtree Rd., NW, in Suwanee.Monday, March 14—4 to 5 p.m. for High School and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for Middle School
This meeting will be a virtual meeting held on Zoom.Saturday, May 14—8:30 to 10 a.m. for Middle School and 10:30 a.m. to noon for High School
These meetings will be held in person in the Training Center at the ISC in Suwanee.
Students will find the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council application in the Student Portal. The application includes four short questions about the applicant’s interest in serving, ideas for improving the school experience for students, and challenges facing students and schools. In addition, the application outlines the expectations for those wishing to serve. The deadline to complete the application is Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. All students selected to serve will be notified by Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.