Superintendent's Weekly Message

Nov. 8, 2023

Dear Hollister High School parents, students, staff and community:

Last week, I was proud to present at the ACSA (Association of California School Administrators) Leadership Summit in Sacramento about how Hollister High School and the San Benito High School District use student voice and data analytics to engage and educate our greater school community.

I was joined as a presenter by District Communications Officer Adam Breen and Hollister High School seniors Gabriel Mendez and Jenna Ellis, both of whom are students in Mr. Breen’s Communications Special Projects Class.

Our one-hour presentation was attended by various administrators from around the state, all of whom wanted to learn more about developing  a multi-faceted communications platform to reach internal and external audiences.

Student Voice Matters

“Presenting at the ASCA conference was an incredible opportunity for us students,” said Gabriel, “not only because it allowed us to showcase some of the initiatives we've been working on, but also because it provided an invaluable platform to work on our public speaking skills.”

The four of us took turns addressing our communication efforts, which reflect our Board of Trustees’ goal to provide clear and consistent communication to our families, community, faculty, staff and students. From newsletters and emails to social media and printed materials, we utilize a wide variety of communication platforms to keep our community connected to our school and district.

“One of the intriguing aspects of our presentation was the fact that we, as students, were speaking about the importance of student voice in education,” Gabriel shared with me this week. “It's not only about discussing the concept of student voice, but also actively demonstrating it in action. By participating in this conference and presenting our ideas, we were living proof of the value and impact of student voices in shaping educational initiatives.”

Consistency is Key

Mr. Breen shared with our educational colleagues from throughout the state about our internal and external communication efforts, which include utilizing the school and district websites and our weekly newsletters. I noted how we have included poll questions in our messaging to help gauge community perspectives and help guide future messaging and how we developed a new district logo, color scheme and typographic standards to encourage consistency across our communication platforms.

A Focus on Equity

Our student, Jenna, who has been a part of Mr. Breen’s student communication team for the past two years, said she “really enjoyed” the leadership conference. “I not only got to teach other people about what we do at Hollister High School through our comms class, but I also got to sit in on another presentation and see another perspective on equity in the classroom, which was very interesting to learn about. Being able to participate in group discussions on topics surrounding equity and compassion was just lovely and it gives me hope for the future of schools throughout the state.”

Various Venues for Voices

Our presentation talked about how we incorporate student voice and perspectives in our community events -- such as open houses, town halls, building dedications, and last year’s Facilities Needs Committee meetings. Students are also encouraged to participate in this Fall’s K-8 Listening and Awareness Sessions regarding a second high school, and they have a voice through my Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, which meets during Haybaler Support Time.

I welcomed the opportunity to present alongside Mr. Breen and our capable students and let them share their perspectives on the importance of allowing their voices to be heard. We take pride in our efforts to be transparent as we inform our community about the great work being done on campus and in our district. This multifaceted communication effort, supported by our Board of Trustees and augmented by the talent of our students, is a reminder that every day is a great day to be a Baler!

Sincerely,

San Benito High School District Superintendent Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum