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Twelve juniors and seniors from Rutherford County Schools recently participated in The Leadership Lab in Raleigh taking their voices beyond the classroom and into the heart of leadership in Raleigh, said Meredith Street, R-S District K-12 AIG Specialist and planner/coordinator for the two-day trip. Other staff attending were Allison Tate and Gail Wilkins, AIG Specialists for the East District and CHASE district respectively; Ritchie Garland coordinator for the department and Superintendent Dr. David Sutton.
Street said the trip was a collaborative effort from the AIG Department staff and "something we have been wanting to implement for a long time."
Students attending were: from R-S Central High School: Savannah Hodge (12th grade), Colby Seigla (12th grade), Andrew Sutton (11th grade), Gracelyn Lail (11th grade); Adriana Tartaglia (11th grade) and Layla Lancaster (11th grade); from East Rutherford: Sarah Webber, (11th grade), from Chase: Kaylee Ash (11th grade), Abigail Thompson (11th grade), Ava Garland (12th grade) and Dawson Loving (11th grade).
The AP Academy juniors and seniors met with state legislators, representatives from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and State Superintendent Mo Greene to advocate for public education and expanded advanced learning opportunities, Street said.
"What made today truly powerful wasn't just where they went, it was what they said," said Street.
"Each student spoke from the heart, sharing personal stories, aspirations, and a deep belief in the value of education," she continued. "They didn't just represent themselves, they represented their peers, their schools, and the future of our community. Their courage, passion, and authenticity remind us all why student voice matters. We couldn't be more proud of the way they stepped up, spoke out, and made an impact."
Sarah Webber, 11th grade student from East Rutherford said, "I was really fortunate to be able to go on the trip. It widened my perspective since I often feel too small to make a change, and although nothing is guaranteed to happen, I felt good about our advocacy. I'm looking forward to more opportunities like this in the future."
Savannah Hodge, R-S Central senior said, "The Raleigh trip really taught me the hard work that goes into the decisions that are made...it taught me how to be a leader and grow my leadership skills and to advocate for what I believe in and I will remember that experience for a long time."
Kaylee Ash, 11th grader from CHASE said, "The trip was so inspirational and I'm so happy that I was able to have this opportunity to advocate for Rutherford County schools and other rural public school systems all across North Carolina."
Abigail Thompson, also an 11th grader at CHASE added, "Traveling to Raleigh for our Leadership Lab was an eye-opening experience. It helped me better understand how decisions are made and showed me the importance of staying informed and using my voice to support public education."
The Leadership Lab component of AP Academy was created to provide a focused cohort experience designed to build leadership and advocacy skills. The cohort of 11 juniors and seniors have been engaged in research and leadership skill development connected to their Advanced Placement coursework and student-driven interest within public education throughout the school year, Street explained.
The cohort had an emphasis based on their interest in advocacy for advanced learning opportunities and experiences for rural students and public school funding.
"The trip to Raleigh was an opportunity for students to engage with policy leaders in Raleigh as advocates for public education in our great state and give them the chance to see how educational policy is determined and impacted at a state-wide level. Their work has consisted of local and statewide research and advocacy," Street said.
While in Raleigh, students attended a portion of the State Board of Education meeting where they were recognized by the board, interacted with state legislators, and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction employees. Students met with Senior Director of the Advanced Learning Department, Sneha Shah-Coltrane and her entire staff; Geoff Coltrane, former Governor Roy Cooper's education advisor and current Senior Director of Legislative Affairs to the State Superintendent.
"Our students were able to spend over an hour with North Carolina State Superintendent Mo Greene who answered their questions, listened to their experiences, and shared his goals for the future of public education in the state," Street said.
Students also explored the State Capitol and museums connected to Advanced Placement coursework. Representative Jake Johnson joined students for a guided tour of the Legislative Building, took students on the house floor, and answered questions they had regarding state government, bipartisanship, and the future of education funding from the General Assembly.
"Leadership Lab thus far has been a meaningful opportunity for our AP Academy students to grow as leaders, connect with peers, and realize the importance their voice has in shaping the future for themselves and the students who follow them," Street said.
She added the two day trip consisted of so many "special moments from watching the Artemis II launch together on a cellphone in the hotel lobby, one of our students finding out she received teaching fellows to Appalachian State University while in the room with the State Superintendent, and another student receiving acceptance into a prestigious school of the arts in NYC."
Street said the cohort has great admiration for the work their teachers do and the support that they receive, and they recognize the challenges public education currently faces that has impacted their experiences.
"Their advocacy was self-directed and it was touching to see the many ways that public education has touched their lives and the lives of their family. I wish every teacher who supports them could have heard the comments made in support of their work by the students throughout the course of this cohort's experience and witnessed the emotional impact our students created through advocacy."
