Annual State of the Student event highlights student voice

At Frederik Meijer Gardens Sculpture Park, student leaders from 20 Kent ISD public school districts and West Michigan Aviation Academy who make up the Student Leadership Community, demonstrated to adults in the community how to listen, learn and lead during the State of the Student.

According to a student panel made up of members of the Kent ISD Student Leadership Community, rising stress and heavy workloads are pushing some students to lean on AI for their schoolwork.

In a reversal of roles, students took the lectern to teach educators lessons about the life of young people.

Now in its third year, the Listen Learn Lead event is designed to showcase student voices to help further the conversation about challenges districts face in educating students. This year’s event was led by the Student Leadership Community members.  

As they inch closer to graduation, three high school students share their career ambitions and the efforts of educators and school staff to empower them to reach for their dreams.