District/School Administration Administration
The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Report on State Student Advisory Council Leadership Conference

Board member AJ Fajnzylber, chair of the State Student Advisory Council, will give a brief report on the council's summer leadership conference.

The State Student Advisory Council (SSAC) conference was held at Endicott College in Beverly, MA, August 5 - 8, 2008. The conference was attended by 50 student delegates, alternates, regional chairs and regional recorders from across the Commonwealth. Department staff from the Center for Student Support, Career & Education Services organized and conducted the conference assisted by seven former SSAC members representing the graduating classes of 2008 & 2007. Topics included: Group & Team Building Activities, Diversity, Overview of Education/Whose Job is it?, Intro to Readiness Project and Readiness Challenges, Communication, Intro to Research, Student Rights & Responsibilities, Legislative/Budget Process, Leadership, Facilitation, Time Management, and a Conversation with Commissioner Chester.

Participants were introduced to the functions of the Department and Board of Elementary & Secondary Education as well as their roles as members of an advisory council to the Board. The overall theme of the conference was the Readiness Report and the SSAC's role in its implementation. Participants read and commented on the Readiness Report, worked in small groups to research the challenges presented in the report, and provided initial feedback on the recommendations of the report.