What does a school day look and feel like from a student’s perspective? And what can students tell district leaders about the experiences, opportunities, and challenges that matter most to them? Those are the questions embedded into the Visalia Unified School District’s (VUSD) strategic plan action 2.a.2.1 – Expand opportunities for student voice across the district. This week, the District held two events centered around this action to help shape the course of this year and the future of Visalia Unified.
On September 27th through October 2nd, VUSD held Shadow a Student Week where 84 VUSD leaders stepped into the role of a student for a school day. That same week, nearly 100 students in grades 4-12 gathered for the district’s first Superintendent Student Advisory of the school year, providing direct feedback to district leaders on issues that affect their daily school experience. Together, these events reflect VUSD’s commitment to making student voices an integral part of the decision-making process.
Walking in their shoes
Shadow a Student expanded districtwide this fall following a successful spring 2026 pilot that included 25 students. Every leader participating in the event shadowed one student through their regular schedule, experiencing the school day from the student’s perspective. This included academics, sports, and any extra curricular activities involved in the student’s day. Leaders weren’t looking at how well a student performed, they were looking at the classroom environment, how their student transitioned, the pacing in the classroom, engagement with friends, and overall routines and school environment. The goal: to better understand the student experience and identify opportunities for district leaders to adjust, improve or better align their work to support students, teachers, and schools.
“We make decisions as a District, and to be able to see the students and how it directly impacts them, will help us make better decisions,” said John Perez, VUSD Director of Athletics. Leaders are now reviewing information, reflecting on observations, and sharing the information with their teams to ensure alignment with District work.
Shaping the conversation
That same commitment to student voice was on display that same week at El Diamante High School, where nearly 100 diverse students from across VUSD’s elementary, middle and high schools participated in the first Superintendent’s Student Advisory for the 2026-27 school year.
The half day experience began with students being immersed in the El Diamante culture with student performance groups displaying their amazing talent and opportunities on campus. Students then participated in feedback sessions focused on topics specific to their grade levels.
“It makes me proud because I get to share my experiences and what I’ve learned throughout my couple months of being in middle school and just trying to improve the overall state of Visalia Unified School District,” said 7th grade Divisadero student, Jackson Howard.
- Elementary students shared their feedback on newly added lunches, and provided feedback on lunch options they would like to see. Students will have the opportunity to taste those recipes at the next advisory meeting.
- Middle school students provided insight into their school culture and what contributes to a positive student experience. This feedback will be reviewed with school administrators to help shape their culture for the remainder of the school year.
- High school students asked questions and shared their thoughts on the upcoming 2026-27 8-period modified block schedule. Leaders heard feedback on how best to assist students with the transition and communicate leading up to the change.
All students also participated in facilities conversation where they helped rank what they believe is their school’s highest facility priority. Options included a variety of items ranging from safety and access to gathering spaces, outdoor seating and shade, among others.
“It is always a goal for me to gather feedback from students before we implement changes that will impact them,” said VUSD Superintendent Shrum. “We all want to do what’s best for our students, so receiving their ideas and feedback on what we’re planning is critical to not only their success, but the success of our community.”
The Superintendent’s Student Advisory meets in-person four times a year, and on Zoom periodically throughout the year, and the Shadow A Student Day will be an annual event held during the first semester. Together, these events help establish a systematic framework for gathering student feedback that directly impacts how work is designed and implemented across the District.