Student Voice Project Mentors (2 per school), Salem Public Schools (INTERNAL ONLY), [SY 2026-2027] (2 per school)

 

Salem Public Schools (SPS) is committed to amplifying student voices through our Student Voice Project (SVP) initiative. For the 2026–2027 school year, we will enhance mentorship capacity across the district using the Search Institute’s Developmental Relationships (DR) framework and Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) to drive student-led, transformational change.

 

2026–2027 Program Workflow & Timeline

• September 2026: Mentor Learning Series
• Mentors complete a 4-part training series (Tuesdays: Sept 8, 15, 22, 29 | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM) to map out scope and sequence, design YPAR strategy, schedule panels, and establish recruitment plans.
• October 2026 – May 2027: Weekly Student Group Meetings
• Facilitate weekly YPAR/ Student Voice sessions begin the week of October 5, 2026. Mentors guide student cohorts through the developmental framework, YPAR benchmarks, root-cause analysis (5-Why Protocol), and mixed-methods research.
• Interim Stakeholder Panels ( December & March)
• Students host 1–2 progress panels with school leadership and stakeholders for mid-project feedback.
• May 2027: Annual Student Voice Summit
• The district wide Summit will be on  the last Thursday of May (May 27, 2027), where student groups present their final YPAR research and actionable recommendations to the broader Salem community.

Key Responsibilities of Mentors

• Program Recruitment & Management: Recruit a diverse cohort of student leaders, handle family communications, and manage registration.
• Student Mentorship: Foster developmental relationships while facilitating weekly student-led YPAR research sessions.
• Research & Stakeholder Engagement: Direct students through the 5-Why Protocol and mixed-method research; coordinate 1–2 Stakeholder Panels for mid-year feedback.
• Professional Collaboration: Partner with SVP Lead Mentors and participate in mandatory district check-ins.

Commitment & Professional Development Schedule

• Weekly Meetings: Lead/ facilitated weekly student voice club/ program 
• Early October, 2026 to May 2027
• Program time: 60-75 Minutes
• District Check-ins: Engage in 1–2 check-ins with the SVP Leadership Team to ensure  
• Student Voice Summit: Support and participate in the annual Student Voice Summit tentative date Thursday, May 27, 2027.

Compensation: Up to $500 stipend upon each of the sessions listed below -facilitator attendance is dependent on stipend. 

• September Learning Sessions:  Tuesdays in September(8, 15, 22, 29) including additional program planning time 

If facilitated outside of school time: Up to $500 stipend upon each of the sessions listed below -facilitator attendance is dependent on stipend. 

• Fall Session: 10/05/26- 12/18/26 (10 weeks) *
• Winter Session: 1/11/27-3/26/27 (10 weeks)
• Spring Session:  3/29/27- 6/4/27 (10 weeks) 

Qualifications

• Deep commitment to equity, student agency, and affirming diverse student backgrounds.
• High expectations for student achievement paired with strong relationship-building skills.
• Reflective practitioner open to continuous feedback and peer collaboration.

 

September Professional Learning Series

What	When
Building Student led Spaces and Fostering Student Ownership Goal: Be able to facilitate a conversation with students to establish a student led learning space and identify how students can develop their Student Voice  group Introduce Student culture building & Think- Give  resources.	Tuesday, September 8th 3:30-5:00 PM Collins Middle School  Room 130
Action Strategies: Making Way for Student Agency Goal: Identify resources for action using previous year’s research as a start point and opportunities to work in partnership with school based leadership and/or current systems	Tuesday, September 15th, 3:30-5:00  Collins Middle School  Room 130
5- Why Protocol: Root Cause Analysis Goal: To facilitate a 5 why protocol to identify a root cause and be able share power to land on a specific research.	Tuesday, September 22nd, 3:30-5:00  Collins Middle School  Room 130
Mini-Summit with School and District Leaders Goal: Mentors host a panel discussion with school leadership and additional stakeholders to increase accountability and opportunities to address additional needs.	Tuesday, September 29th, 3:30-5:00 Virtual Session

 

 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.