The Student Action Board

The Problem:

Students are the ones who stand to gain the most from their education, but they often don't have a say in how it is provided. This lack of influence is a missed chance to help students learn more effectively and get ready for a world where being able to learn new things and take charge is important for success.

Symptoms:

Lack of academic engagement and motivation in school
Decreased enrollment in college and career readiness programs
Inability to develop leadership skills and innovative thinking

Impact:

The funnel to industrial jobs is no longer relevant in today's rapidly changing economy, leading to a disconnect between the education system and the needs of the workforce.
Young people are not equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the modern job market or to address complex global issues.
This ultimately hinders the progress and prosperity of society as a whole.

The Solution:

A reevaluation and modernization of the education system is necessary to better align with the needs of the 21st century and to cultivate a more engaged and capable generation of leaders.

We brought students, educators, and curriculum experts together to develop a program curriculum that allows young people to freedom dream about the future of education. We believe that when students are given the skills, support, and space, they can catalyze the educational revolution. This program is out to build their tool kit.

THE STUDENT ACTION BOARD

WHERE EDUCATION INNOVATION BEGINS

PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH

Students participating in the Student Action Board program are guided through a 5 phase youth participatory action research program designed to discover the most pressing needs of young people of color.

In addition, the research study would seek to uncover the solutions young people believe would support their academic engagement, college, career, and life readiness by gathering student perspectives on what they believe works.

EDUCATION INNOVATION ADVOCACY

During the final unit, students will collaborate to develop a final project (album, podcast series, book, presentation, etc.) to be presented at the Annual Student Action Board Conference.

Through their final presentations, students will share what they learned while in the program, enlighten their community on the impact of student-centered practices, and provide educators, and school leaders with student-centered solutions to some of education’s most pressing issues.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

By participating in the Student Action Board Program, students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of youth advocacy, receive mentorship, and build and develop as active learners.

Black on Black Education’s Student Action Board’s program provides students with the resources and support to become active in their education experience.

Youth Advisors

A group of student advisors that support the development of the SAB curriculum, curate bi-weekly newsletter, and most importantly ensure that all Black on Black Education decisions are made with young people in mind.

Sara Bartlett (she/her)

Education Policy Research Intern
Hello my name is Sara! I am a full-time student at Johns Hopkins University pursuing a double major in Public Health & Sociology in conjunction with a minor in Computer Science. I enjoy using the skills gained through engaging in my studies to research topics ranging from the effects of educational policies being passed around the country to the effectiveness of various teaching practices. I have always been interested in systemic issues that can affect the well-being of individuals, and thus find great fulfillment in interning with Black on Black Education.
Odelia Amevor (she/her)

Youth Advisor
My name is Odelia. I go by she/her. I am a sophomore at University Heights High School. I joined BoBE hoping to create more student-centered opportunities that drastically change educational experiences and environments. The biggest change I want to see in education is the resources allocated to developing students’ voices, creativity, and learning.
Sade Balogun (she/her)

Youth Advisor
My name is Sade Balogun. I go to South Bronx Community Charter High School, and I am in the 10th grade. I'm a part of the Youth Advisors at Black on Black Education, the National Honors Society, and the Student Life Committee at my school. I joined Black on Black Education so that I could be a voice of representation for the quieter students who may not be as outgoing and assertive as others in the activism community. I would like to see education be made for all students and not just the ones who are able to speak up for themselves and what they need.
Nicole Santos-Pena (she/her)

Youth Advisor
My name is Nicole Santos-Peña and I am a 10th grader. My pronouns are she/her, I attended South Bronx Community Charter High School. I am apart of The Student Government, The National Honor Society, JROTC (Marine Cadets), TaeKwonDo(which I started), Black on Black Education Youth Advisors, and I am apart of an orchestra band. I am apart of BOBE because I wanna be able to do something to better my education and those who come after me. The biggest change I wanna see is kids actually being engaged in there learning and being interested in it
Mikayla Thompson (she/her)

Youth Advisor
My name is Mikayla Thompson, and I attend South Bronx Community Charter High School. I’m in the 11th grade. I joined Black on Black Education because I want to give educators and students my opinion on the school system and how I would like to be taught. The biggest change I want to see in education is having more students’ voices speak on what they want and how they want to be educated.
Kemoya Salmon (she/her)

Youth Advisor
My name is Kemoya Salmon, and my pronouns are she/her. I attend the South Bronx Community Charter High School. I joined Black on Black Education because I saw it as a student opportunity to use my voice to make a difference for other students/children who may not have that voice. A change I would like to see in education is more variety in teaching methods and giving students a say in what they want to learn.
Fatumata Dolley (she/her)

Youth Advisor
My name is Fatumata Dolley. I attend Bronx Letters High School and am in the 10th grade. I joined Black on Black Education because I wanted to have control over what I learn and how I learn that.
Yaslin Polanco (she/her)

Youth Advisor
My name is Yaslin, I am a sophomore at University Heights High School, and my pronouns are she/her. I joined Black on Black Education because I want to take part in making the education system more tailored for students who are left behind. The education system now is very one size fits, and I want to ensure that my generation and the next can excel in schools across NYC.