The Student Ambassador Program aims to address systemic barriers in education by equipping a variety of high school students from diverse learning backgrounds and educators with practical, evidence-based strategies and fostering a network for broader impact. Through a series of civic leadership and action-research seminars, students engage in hands-on projects that develop skills in leadership, research, and advocacy. Ongoing coaching, small-group support, and post-program evaluations ensure students’ voices are amplified and the program continues to evolve based on participant feedback.
Program Goals
Identify systemic barriers and provide practical, timely, evidence-based solutions to address needs/challenges faced by CA educators.
Create agency in all those working with students through knowledge about how to meet the diverse needs of learners.
Create a network to multiply the impact of efforts to improve educational outcomes.
Student Ambassador Program
Full Group Civic Leadership and Action Research Seminars
Core Activities
Students learn steps for engaging in a civic leadership action-research project. Sample topics include: design thinking, stakeholder mapping, collecting and analyzing qualitative data, creative brainstorming, prototyping and iterating.
Students participate in interactive leadership training focused on skills such as: active listening, giving and receiving feedback, project management, conflict resolution, and growth mindset.
In teams, students prepare final project highlighting their authentic voice and findings from action research for presentation to an external audience.
Small-Group Follow-Ups and Individual Project Coaching
Core Activities
Small group student research teams meet with assigned staff for 30-45 minutes monthly for final project development including research support, answering questions, and final project preparation.
Feedback and coaching on final project preparation and delivery.
