Student journalists call on Clovis Unified schools to address mental health on campus
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Hey Bee readers! It’s Lasherica with the Education Lab. Today is Tuesday, Jan. 10, and this is our first newsletter of the new year!
At the core of education is students. While the voices of teachers are crucial to education so are the voices of students.
Student journalists a part of the Youth Media Collective, a training bootcamp for student journalists, have been addressing mental health – and in some cases, a lack of support.
Using their peers to guide their stories, Clovis students have produced stories about student mental health. For example, Dilnoor Riar’s December story How post-pandemic burnout manifests in these Clovis area teens incorporated peer interviews, backed by national research.
The story even calls out the Clovis Unified School District for not doing enough.
“Our school thinks that they are doing something by the Mental Health Awareness Month, but in all reality, we are all already aware that mental health is a serious issue in this generation,” one student told Riar. “I haven’t seen them take any action at all to help me or anyone else who is dealing with depression/anxiety.”
The story doesn’t end there. Riar talked with CUSD district officials about available resources, then provided a school model being used in Santa Clara to support student mental health.
Riar’s piece is an example of how journalists amplify voices, raise awareness and seek accountability.
Continue reading today’s newsletter for the Ed Lab’s latest stories that do the same.
HERE’S THE LATEST FROM THE EDUCATION LAB
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“If I’m not the guy who can move the needle academically for kids, you need to get me out of here and put somebody in who can.”
Fresno principal was caught on camera shoving a student. Now child’s guardian is suing
“You see in that video, there’s multiple bystanders that are employees of the district that ... witnessed the event.”
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“How can we raise our voices if we don’t speak English?”
Legal fight between Bullard High football coach and Fresno Unified trustee moves forward
A Fresno judge refused to dismiss a defamation case brought by Bullard High School’s football coach against Fresno Unified Trustee Keshia Thomas and the district, allowing the lawsuit to proceed and moving the case one step closer to trial.
MacKenzie Scott’s donations to Fresno Unified, UC Merced among largest to California schools
MacKenzie Scott, the billionaire philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, has donated well over half a billion dollars to more than 80 California schools and educational organizations since 2020.
Fresno State names new vice president of student affairs to serve as Lamas’ replacement
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MORE FRESNO-AREA EDUCATION NEWS
Michele Cantwell-Copher took the oath of office as the new Fresno County Superintendent of Schools in early January. She was elected to the seat in June 2022 while serving as the office’s assistant superintendent in charge of educational leadership and development under the previous county superintendent.
“Increasing access and opportunity to significantly improve the lives of children and families through transformative education are at the core of Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher’s beliefs,” the county office said in a statement. “Her mission as the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools is to provide leadership and cultivate engagement to unite all sectors in support of public education.”
Fresno Unified continues to offer its Teacher Residency Program for people interested in earning teaching credentials to educate students in the school district. The 12-month program provides participants with a year-long residency placement and a teaching position in Fresno Unified, the school district detailed in its e-newsletter.
The K-6 Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School in Fresno recently received a $1 million donation from the Elaine Hamparson Trust, a media release said.
Hamparson, a “beloved educator,” wanted to empower local organizations to impact their communities. After evaluating the program, visiting the campus, and learning about their vision for the future, the trustees of Hamparson’s estate selected the community school for its donation.
Founded in 1977, the school is the only Armenian School in Fresno but is hoping to expand by building a new Fresno campus, the media release said.
“This donation will undoubtedly be the catalyst for our next stage of growth,” said Christopher Shamlian, chairman of the school board, “and we are excited to see its effects in our Armenian community.”
STILL WANT MORE EDUCATION NEWS? HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING
Julianna’s List
A Fifth of American Adults Struggle to Read. Why Are We Failing to Teach Them?
“Many counties that lack (adult education) programs also double as hot spots of low adult literacy. These are primarily in the mountains of Appalachia, the Southern Black Belt, the Central Valley of California and along the Texas border with Mexico, but they exist throughout the nation.” | ProPublica
Cal State teaching assistants and other student employees could follow UC to a strike
“Struggling with living expenses, 11,000 CSU student academic workers prepare to bargain.” | EdSource
After 6-Year-Old Is Accused in School Shooting, Many Questions and a Murky Legal Path
“The teacher who was shot was in stable condition on Saturday, the police said, but details surrounding the gun remained unknown.” | The New York Times
Lasherica’s List
The School That Calls the Police on Students Every Other Day
An Illinois school for students with disabilities has routinely used the police to handle discipline, resulting in the highest arrest rate of any district in the country. In one recent year, half of Garrison School students were arrested. | ProPublica
When the punishment is the same as the crime: Suspended for missing class
First-of-its-kind analysis uncovers widespread use of suspensions for attendance violations in Arizona | The Hechinger Report
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