* Both parent and student attend
* Student leads the conference
Student presents his/her portfolio work
* Student discusses challenges and successes; academic, behavioral, or social
* Teacher/ Advisor available for more information * Advisor makes further appointments with subject teachers if requested

Student Led Conferencing is defined in the title; students take on the leadership role during student, parent and teacher conferences. The students are positioned as leaders, which requires them to take ownership in both their obvious successes and temporary setbacks. In developing the student led conferences, the end result will help students do more than take ownership and develop leadership skills, it also requires students to set goals designed to overcome weaknesses, or raise the bar in those areas they view as successful.

During the conference, the students are able to explain their academic and personal development from their point of view without making excuses for those areas needing additional work. As teachers, we are limited, as we are only as informed as the student allows us to be. Certainly we can identify areas needing development or strong suits, but we believe the student is the expert on what they need and how they best learn.

As these empowering conferences continue to develop, change will play a major role. Many parents were surprised to learn that the conferences were assisted by teacher advisors, rather than the students’ primary academic instructor(s). Parents are able to schedule sessions with academic instructors if and when needed through the advisor. However, the advisors are not strangers to the academic and personal status of the students. They are equipped to share helpful insight with the parents, in some cases, even greater insight as students share concerns with their advisors outside of the classroom.

We welcome our parents to embrace this practice and encourage their children to champion their leadership roles. Your support is a vital part of the success of this program. The benefits are numerous; students develop communications and public speaking, ownership and responsibility, organization and time management, and, goal setting and planning skills, while they continue to increase their self-esteem. If you are not currently participating in the student led conferences, you are missing a wonderful opportunity to witness your child’s development, and share in greater parent/child bonding opportunities. Join us for the next conferences; we hope to see you there!