Collaboration. Governance. Student Voice.

On October 24, 2023, 20+ Minnesota public school districts came together for the second annual Student School Board Development Event at Shakopee High School. The Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA), student school board members, district school board members and various partners attended the event.?

This event was focused on empowering student school board members while making their role more impactful.

"School board work focuses on doing what is best for all students. There’s no better way to do that than to receive feedback from student board members," shared Kirk Schneidawind , MSBA Executive Director. "We’re so happy to see student leaders step forward to be part of their school governance team!"

Each year, a different district serves as the host site of this event. Columbia Heights Public Schools hosted the first event. Shakopee Public Schools , which is home to the Academies of Shakopee, was proud to serve as the second annual event location.?

The largest portion of the event was devoted to student-led discussions on ways school districts can develop more impactful student roles on their school board and effective strategies for capturing all student voices. Jim Miklausich , Assistant Superintendent of Shakopee Public Schools, facilitated the conversation.

"It was amazing to see students from metropolitan and rural school districts across Minnesota so engaged in the discussion," shared Kristi Peterson, Shakopee Public Schools Board Chair. "It was also great to have several school districts in attendance that do not presently have students on their school board, but are preparing to do so."

The event also included a combination of informative and collaborative sessions with key topics such as Governance vs. Management led by Mike Redmond , Superintendent of Shakopee Public Schools and Managing Difficult Conversations & Constituents facilitated by William J. Doherty, Ph.D., Co-Founder of Braver Angels .

"I have always wanted to serve and be part of something bigger than myself," shared Aaditya Paranjape, Shakopee Public Schools Student Board Member. "I am of the belief that education is of utmost importance, and I am on the School Board because I want to help our District become the best it can be."?

As of May 2022, Shakopee Public Schools welcomed Shakopee High School students Aaditya Paranjape, Class of 2024, and Danielle Dake, Class of 2023, as ex-officio members of the school board. Michelle Sieberg, Class of 2025, was selected as a student school board member in July 2023.?

Student ambassadors for the Academies of Shakopee led tours to help connect attendees while showcasing Shakopee's small learning communities within the High School that serves nearly 3,000 students. The Business & Entrepreneurship Academy's culinary class prepared and served a custom lunch for the event.

Thank you to the below partners and school districts that participated in the event.

MSBA - Braver Angels - PELSB - AMSD - Adrian Public Schools - Becker?Public Schools - Bloomington Public Schools - Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 - Centennial?Public Schools - Columbia Heights Public Schools ?- Eastern Carver County Schools?- Eden Valley-Watkins?Public Schools - Hastings Public Schools?- Hutchinson Public Schools?- Jordan Public Schools ?- Minneapolis Public Schools - School District 622: North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Schools -?Princeton-Public Schools?- Proctor Public Schools?- Richfield Public Schools - Tri-City-United Public Schools - Waconia Public Schools ?- West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools - Shakopee CAPS