​​​​Jason Wakeman​

Organizing the Boise High

Sustainability Summit

Every year Boise High School holds a student research summit, generally at the beginning of fourth quarter. The summit is organized around a theme. 2015 was food; the previous summit centered on wellness. At these conferences student volunteers present their own research, generally projects they are working on in their classes. The event also features student organized events--during the food summit students could go to BHS's downtown teaching farm to plant tomatoes--and a keynote speaker. 

Every year this enormous event is organized, planned, and run by the students in our AVID 11 elective course. As their student-teacher I was involved yearlong in helping out AVID juniors plan the summit, a process that started all the way back in October. In the gallery to the right you will find several shots of the calendar we used to plan our preparation for the event. Our students had to decide on keynote speaker options, as well as run a schoolwide vote for the two that were willing to attend. They had to plan the various activities for the summit. In the end they settled on maker-space activities in which students would make household items like lipbalm, cloth sandwich bags, and more. They had to attract, review, and organize all of our student presenters. In the end they successfully organized 84 presentations. They also had to raise the funds necessary for the event. 

It was a massive undertaking. 

The event itself was no less massive, and as their long-term substitute for fourth quarter, it fell to me to ensure that everything went smoothly. I was the liaison between our juniors and other faculty members involved in the summit. I coached them in their interactions with guests, suppliers, and other faculty members. I oversaw their projects. Perhaps most exhaustingly, I also oversaw the event itself, helping the students pull off the summit. 

In the end our students raised almost $3500 through a Go Fund Me account they ran and promoted. They successfully got Bea Johnson to come and speak at our school. They ran three different maker spaces for sophomores, juniors and seniors. All while taking a leading role with faculty and guests. In the second gallery you can see pictures taken by me on the day of the event. Pictured are our AVID students talking to members of the press, meeting with Bea Johnson, and running various events at the summit.

The event was an enormous growth opportunity for my students and me. It gave me the chance to work closely with many fellow teachers at BHS as well as members of the administration as we planned the event. It also taught me an enormous amount about cultivating leadership, helping students plan and organize events, and impact their community. 

Helping Students Plan and Communicate:

Danielson Framework, Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities

4b Maintaining Accurate Records

4d Participating in the Professional Community

4e Growing and Developing Professionally

4f Showing Professionalism