Student Leadership Research Collaborative

I have always believed student voice is imperative to both hope and real change. This belief drove my work as coach, principal and superintendent in six Ohio school districts.  Often, we discovered students wanted a platform to discuss change but didn't know how to go about making these ideas into reality.  The current climate of social justice advocacy and energy has been evident in each school district with the start of the 2020-21 school year.  Students have wanted to talk about things and take action and if not given some type of structure, they will create their own potentially dividing the community and school.  We believe it is important for us to be proactive and not reactive to this change and the collaborative is an opportunity for school districts to bring students together in an interactive way to positively support these ideas. When combined with the challenges associated with learning virtually, this opportunity could not be offered at a better time.

The Ohio State University Student Research Leadership Collaborative is an opportunity to bring students together from multiple school districts, representing a diverse population of learners working together in a structured format to produce real change. Student teams of five each (up to 100) representing multiple Central Ohio school districts, will come together monthly beginning January 30, 2021, to explore leadership qualities, quantitative/qualitative measurement, and advocacy strategies consistent with change.  Through support from the ESC of Central Ohio, the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology, and Columbus State Community College, students will become voices of changes for their respective schools and communities.

What makes this project unique is the research component attached to advocacy.  Student participants are not only supported in their individual school districts by a staff member, but are also mentored by doctoral students at The Ohio State University to identify a social justice issue within their respective communities and/or school.  Through their hypotheses students will learn leadership skills that are consistent with that of a truly educated young advocate.  After collecting and interpreting data, students will present their findings through both a poster and oral presentation virtually to district administrators in early May. In summary the anticipated outcomes for student participants:

•    Stronger Student Leaders
•    Educated Student Advocates
•    Understanding of Data

Each session of the collaborative will be offered to students virtually. We are excited to bring this opportunity to the students of Central Ohio and appreciate the work of our support partners in making this happen. Real change begins by authentically educating and supporting young minds!

 Dr. Keith M. Bell, Sr.
College of Education and Human Ecology

•    Identify five 11th grade students to participate in the collaborative (see student profile).
•    Complete the registration form including name and email information.
•    Identify a staff mentor to participate with each team for each session (see staff mentor profile).
•    Submit the registration form by January 25, 2021.
•    Students will be contacted with Zoom links for each session via email.  Principal and staff mentors will be copied on student communication(s).
•    Participate in Collaborative!

•    Exposure to college level instruction in quantitative and qualitative research.
•    Exposure to college level delivery of advocacy to action skills.
•    Leadership workbook and personal leadership journals provided.
•    Student leadership skills and actions.
•    Certificate of completion from The Ohio State University.
•    Youth Participatory Action Research curriculum delivery.
•    Experience can be used for college resume.
•    Exposure to Ohio State education doctoral students as additional mentors.
•    Opportunity to create real change.
•    Learn how to become an empowered student advocate for change.
•    Connect with peers from other Central Ohio school districts.
•    Have fun and learning new knowledge.

•    Opportunity to address student social and emotional needs.
•    Innovative educational experience for students.
•    Opportunity for students to work with peers in Central Ohio schools.
•    College level research, leadership and advocacy instruction.
•    Youth Participatory Action Research Curriculum.
•    $150 reimbursement back to districts to offset part of substitute cost.
•    Potentially connect disconnected students.
•    Integrate current knowledge into action.
•    Exposure to Ohio State academic and admission resources.

•    Any student that is passionate about creating positive change in your school or community.
•    Any student that would benefit from working collaboratively as a team to create real change for their school or community.
•    Any student that may be an informal leader in the school without an outlet to channel ideas and energy.
•    Any student that thinks outside of the traditional methodology of education and would benefit from something different.
•    Any student that may be currently disengaged in school and has leadership qualities, but no outlet to explore possibilities.
•    Any student that would be an asset to the learning of other students.
•    Any student looking for answers.
•    Student council members/various leaders from extra- and co-curricular clubs and organizations that have not had student professional development in leadership.

•    Staff members that work to offer student growth opportunities such as guidance counselors, building administrators, teacher leaders, teachers on special assignment, interested staff members, safety and security personnel, and any staff that would positively support student growth.
•    Virtually attend sessions with students assisting with presentation interpretation where needed.
•    While students do the work, staff mentors work with students to help them think through potential boundaries and direct them to resources to support the problem or issue they want to address.
•    Guide on the side with student breakout groups.

•    Grant support from he Martha Holding Jennings Foundation.
•    In-kind support from the ESC of Central Ohio.
•    In-kind support from The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology.
•    In-kind support from Columbus State Community College.
•    In-kind support from the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at The Ohio State University.
•    Partnership support from:
        BKG Services, Mr. Ben Harper CEO
        Mr. Phil Mallott, Defiance College Board of Trustees
        Jostens, Mr. Mike Dillon CEO

Session I: Thursday, January 28, 2021 (9:00am-1:00pm via Zoom)

Session II: Thursday, February 25, 2021 (9:00am-1:00pm via Zoom)

Session III: Tuesday, March 23 2021 (9:00am-1:00pm via Zoom)

Session IV: Thursday, April 15, 2021 (9:00am-1:00pm via Zoom)

Session V: Thursday, April 29, 2021 (9:00am-1:00pm via Zoom)

Session VI: Thursday, May 13, 2021 (9:00am-12:00pm via Zoom)

For more information, please contact Dr. Keith Bell.