Student Voices

There’s no better way to understand the importance of improving our public schools than listening to the students themselves. If you have a story to tell, or know someone who does, hit us up on our Contact Page.

False Narratives on Oakland Schools; How Discrimination at Tech Forced Me Out and How I Found Community at Mack

(A Guest post from Haifa Algabri An Oakland graduate who was born in Yemen and raised in West Oakland an unapologetically Muslim woman who speaks her truth.  An aspiring physician at Mills College double majoring in Biopsychology and Public Health and Health Equity. Her goal in life is to be of service to every community…

When Students Get it Right: How Listening to the End Users in Education is the Right Move

(A Guest post from Charles Cole III, the founder and executive director of one of Energy Convertors) New York just became the first state in the United States to make mental health education mandatory for public school students starting at age 3. The policy aims to help destigmatize mental health to ensure a healthier population…

Why Students Are Skipping YOUR Class: Improving Teacher Practice from a Student’s Perspective

(A guest post from Trylyon Love, an Oakland public school student and energy converter) A school is a place that we are supposed to be getting “educated.” If school is such a beneficial place for us, why are there so many students failing most of their classes? Why are students complaining every day about coming here?…

Real Talk for Teachers: Be Authentic, Teach Life Skills, Don’t Be Corny

(A guest post from Kareem Garcia, an Oakland public school student and Energy Convertor) “During those long years in the Oakland Public Schools, I did not have one teacher who taught me anything relevant to my own life or experience.”-Huey Newton 1973 -Revolutionary Suicide At school, I want to learn the things that will help…