LASD Board Highlights

Traditionally, many schools have a small group of elected student council members. Springer Elementary School has a unique and exciting student leadership program called "Springer Ambassadors." Current students and graduate Ambassadors from Springer explained the program at the most recent meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Currently, 40 Springer students have applied, interviewed and been accepted into the program. The students work to enact tangible and meaningful benefits to the school community. The Ambassadors participated in the Cornerstone program this year to identify Springer's strengths. Students also identified two ways they wanted to benefit the school: increasing awareness around bullying and types of bullying, and developing a feeling of ownership and care for the school.

Ambassadors meet once per week, plan spirit days and charity events, run the morning meetings, "run for your life" and kinder support. Current students identified valuable learning experiences from the program, including public speaking, responsibility and leadership. Graduates of Springer Ambassadors spoke about how the program built their confidence and passion to give back to their communities as they moved on to middle school and high school.

The Ambassador program is an important example of the amazing LASD Student Experience our teachers and staff provide for all. The program helps students develop positive relationships with their peers and teachers, promotes a sense of safety and belonging, provides rich learning experiences for participants, and develops important developmental skills, mindsets and habits.

The Board unanimously approved independent contractor agreements with Champions, the YMCA and Children's House to provide Extended Learning Opportunities to LASD students. By California law, the program must be offered to all students in Transitional Kindergarten through grade 6 who are English Language learners, foster/homeless youth, or those who qualify for free/reduced meals. The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) helps provide after school and summer school enrichment programs for qualifying students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade. “Expanded learning” means before school, after school, summer, or intersession learning programs that focus on developing the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs and interests of students through hands-on, engaging learning experiences.