Student Advisory Committee Promotes State of the District Showcase; Tolerance During National Bullying Prevention Month

On Tuesday, my Student Advisory Committee met for the first time this school year. The committee is composed of one representative from each middle school and high school in the district, plus a few ex-officio members and other invited students. There are 41 students on the committee, including 18 new members and 23 returning members.

Here are some of the 41 students who serve on the Student Advisory Committee.

First on the agenda, the committee discussed an important date coming up on the district's calendar—the Austin ISD State of the District Showcase, Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Toney Burger Stadium. The Student Advisory Committee will play a major role in publicizing this event, which will bring together our families and community to strengthen support for all of our students, staff members and schools. The showcase will celebrate our district's outstanding programs in academics, athletics and the arts, featuring marching bands, dance teams, color guards and a host of other performances and exhibits that spotlight what we can accomplish when we work as a team!

Save the date for Nov. 13!

The committee helped me plan some of the elements of the showcase, including appearing in a video for the flash mob portion of the evening. They also took flyers promoting the showcase back to their home campuses to get the word out to fellow students, parents and families. I hope to see everyone at Burger Stadium on Nov. 13—believe me, you won't want to miss it!

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, so committee members will promote the objectives of the No Place for Hate campaign on their campuses. The students signed the No Place for Hate pledge and read it aloud, promising to "combat prejudice and ... stop those who ... would hurt anyone or violate their civil rights." Our goal is to be designated as a No Place for Hate school district by the 2014-15 school year. To reach this goal, every campus and office must achieve its own designation by participating in No Place for Hate activities.

The next step for committee members is to circulate the pledge at their home campuses and inspire at least five other students per school to sign. The committee member who returns to the next meeting with the most signatures will win a prize! 

These three students have served on the committee in each of the three years it has existed.

It has been great getting to know all the students on this committee, some of whom were part of the original committee that I first formed three years ago when I became superintendent. I'd like to thank all the committee members—they are wonderful ambassadors for their schools, and the district as a whole. I look forward to seeing them again at the next Student Advisory Committee meeting on Jan. 8, 2013.

Proud parents of the committee members wait patiently outside the AISD Board Room during the meeting.