McPhee students unifying for change

February 1, 2023

McPhee students are blazing a path for their peers through a new student group. 

McPhee Scholars Unite allows third through fifth-grade students to learn and advocate for equity at their school.  The scholars meet monthly to discuss one of the four pillars under Lincoln Public Schools’ Equity Lenses. The four pillars are equality, justice, kindness and civility. After discussion, the students brainstorm ways to take action. 

“I hope this changes McPhee by making sure everyone’s voices are heard and making everyone noticed,” McPhee fourth-grade student  Sha Aei said. 

“I love talking about what’s right, what’s fair and not fair and trying to figure things out like how we can solve this problem,” fifth-grade student Jazera added. She also helped the group think of its name, which they voted on before adopting it. 

McPhee Scholars Unite is an idea that came from the school’s staff equity committee. Staff members wanted a way to raise student voices and collaborate with them to make McPhee more equitable for all students. They said this work is never too early to start. 

“Our job is to teach students how to advocate for themselves and for others. We won't always be right by their side when they face inequities in the world,” McPhee teacher Ross Pickel said. Pickel is one of the staff who helps lead the group. “Our students are the heart and the soul of our school. They deserve the loudest voice in any conversation concerning their education and success.” 

The group has only met twice this year, but they are already cultivating change at McPhee. For example, the students go into different classrooms to share their experiences with younger students to demonstrate justice and kindness. The scholars have shared their thoughts with staff –  prompting them to reflect on current practices to ensure an equitable environment. 

“We work hard to remove barriers so that all of our students have access to opportunities because we want them to achieve at high levels and to grow into amazing adults,” McPhee Principal Chris Boden said. 

The group currently has more than a dozen students. The scholars will learn about equality next. 

Check out some highlights from the most recent meeting:

To learn more about the district’s equity goals, look at our “All Means All” action plan at https://home.lps.org/board/all/

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