Naomi Austin, the Walpole Public Schools director of student, staff and community engagement, told the school committee she is shifting her work to emphasize student voice, classroom collaboration, staff professional growth and family and community connections.

Austin said she has been co-leading lessons on harmful language in upper elementary classrooms across the district to pair definitions and consequences of harmful language with student leadership concepts such as being an upstander. "One thing a student wrote: their voice matters and they can make a difference," Austin said, describing a recent classroom takeaway.

At the high school Austin co-leads a new group called Voices (Voicing Our Identity, Culture, Experience and Strength) with Leticia Winslow and Jill Kimball. She said the group plans family-facing programming and a spring showcase, and hopes to pair high school mentors with elementary students.

On building capacity, Austin described school-based equity teams at every school that were established last year and are now active in guiding building-level staff conversations, producing newsletters and leading initiatives. She also co-leads a district advisory group with equity ambassador Billy Tighe that includes representatives from each school and district staff; the group will convene next week to advise district initiatives.

Austin said she has provided professional development for support staff (recess and lunch aides and extended-day staff) and continues one-on-one and responsive support for students, families and staff. She said she is expanding community partnerships and is leading the district initiative "Planning for Success," which will evaluate action steps to strengthen relationships with current and new families.

Committee members praised the work and said the efforts align with district goals about belonging and family engagement. School Committee member Nancy (last name not specified in transcript) thanked Austin for the update and asked whether anything stood out for the committee; Austin highlighted teacher leadership and capacity-building in schools.

Austins presentation concluded with members encouraging student presentations at future meetings and with expressions of support for continued family outreach and collaboration.