High-schoolers talk mental health with education leaders, legislators

All Districts — Marlee-Ami Sierz said she knows how difficult it can be to struggle with mental health issues.

The Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy junior sat on a student panel Tuesday in Lansing titled “Addressing Mental Health Through Authentic Student Voice.” She told educators and legislators what schools can do to reach students like her who may need a kind word, support or just to feel seen.

“I really hope teachers take into account how important it is to build that connection with us. It helps so much,” Marlee-Ami said. “I know when I come into class and the teacher can notice that I’m down, and they ask me how I’m doing or how I slept last night, it just makes me feel better already, and I know it’s going to be a better day.”

Educators, students, legislators and parents from Michigan districts listened as the panel of six high-schoolers from University Preparatory Academy, East Kentwood, Northview and Maple Valley high schools spoke about how to address issues related to increased mental health disorders in youth. Jenny Fee, Kent ISD assistant superintendent of instruction services, moderated. 

‘I want younger kids to be able to go to school and say, ‘Wow, this is a really great place. I really enjoy being at school.’”

— East Kentwood senior Anari Roberts 

Survey Shows More Supports Needed

The event highlighted the results of the Michigan Student Voice Perception Survey, with educators sharing data and experiences and the students sharing their thoughts regarding mental health, said Davie Store, Kent ISD director of research and continuous improvement. 

Store helps administer the survey, first planned in 2019 and used statewide the past three years.

Originally developed by the Kent Intermediate Superintendents Association, the survey measures responses from students in grades 5-12 in the areas of engagement, social-emotional learning and belonging (equity and inclusion). Last year, 108 districts participated in the survey, representing 70,623 students. The goal is for more districts to administer it in 2025, Store said. 

Along with the Student Perception Survey, educators and parents  can also weigh in with an Educator Perception Survey and Parent/Guardian Perception Survey, both which were piloted last school year. Surveys are free to districts.

Taking Action

Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Gorman said the goal of the event was to highlight the survey and encourage more schools to distribute it. Hosting the event in Lansing was a way to offer a centralized location and to be accessible to legislators.

“It’s all about making the data actionable now,” he said. “If data is just there and not doing anything, our student outcomes are not getting better.”

University Prep Principal Kenyatta Hill-Hall and Maple Valley Schools Superintendent Katherine Bertolini presented on how their staffs have responded to survey results by embedding efforts to create belonging and culture in their schools.

‘When we talk to students, they are always highlighting the fact that mental health is one of the key things we need to be discussing.’

– Davie Store, Kent ISD director of research and continuous improvement

Hill-Hall talked about the increase in anxiety and drop in engagement and attendance due to and after the pandemic. Survey results were eye-opening and required a shift, she said.

“When we started really diving into the Michigan Student Voice Perception Survey and (a GRPS survey), we saw that our scholars did not feel like they belonged in this community. … (And) it wasn’t just our scholars; it was also our staff.”

Hill-Hall and her staff began to also look at efforts to support student belonging in classrooms, and created an SEL room for students to relax and reflect. They strengthened their Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports system to include more student input. 

“The more scholars feel they belong, the more invested they become in meeting the expectations of the classroom community,” she said.

At Maple Valley, Bertolini said, schools there have added an advisory period just for students and teachers to have fun together as a way to build relationships. No academics are allowed during that time.

“Through COVID we lost fun. We lost tradition. We lost connection We lost memories. We just did academics and our kids were not having fun at all,” Bertolini said, stressing that advisory is time for play and talking about goals and developing soft skills.

Student panelists said they hope educators continue to listen to them and provide needed support.

Northview High School senior Andrew Hinds has attended three school districts since kindergarten and said he sees high anxiety everywhere and students’ lives out of balance.

“I want to help the students in my high school and all across Michigan to have better access to mental health resources. I’ve seen so many kids struggle in the schools,” Andrew said about participating in the panel. “I think we need more online resources for school districts. The more resources we have out to kids to use will help save a lot of kids over a long period of time.”

East Kentwood High School senior Anari Roberts said students’ needs have changed since a generation ago. Students stress about grades, sports and finances for college, to name a few things.

“The pandemic especially is a huge factor. It reset the whole world, pretty much. … There’s definitely a lot on your shoulders.”

She said she was thankful to have the chance to share her thoughts.

“I really hope that (adults) listen to our input and try to make a difference in how they are going to do things from now on,” she said. “I want younger kids to be able to go to school and say, ‘Wow, this is a really great place. I really enjoy being at school.’”

Read more: 
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• Four years after pandemic, chronic absenteeism still a problem