resource links
- Overview — Google Drive document
- Recording Platform — Polaris Education AI (Code: 2461)
- Facilitator Training Cards
- Training Slidedeck — Google Slides
- Theming Slidedeck — Google Slides
interview script
consent statement
To help your school understand your thoughts, we’re recording this conversation, which will be transcribed and shared with educators and administrators. If you prefer not to participate, you can leave the conversation at any time.
conversation norms
Share these norms at the start of every session:
- Listen respectfully — Allow others to speak without interruption.
- Step up, step back — Share your thoughts while ensuring everyone gets a chance to speak.
- Disagree kindly — Respectful disagreement is welcome. Assume good faith.
- Take your time — Pause and reflect. You can pass and come back to a question later.
- Don’t name specific people — Use general terms. This conversation remains anonymous.
introduction
Have each participant share their grade level and favorite subject (if applicable).
Remind participants to speak loudly enough to be captured in the recording. They should not share their name.
questions
Question 1: “Look at the following images. Which image do you feel best represents your feelings about school? Why?”
Please ensure peers state the number of the image for the recording. (As in, “I choose #2 because…”)
Question 2: “Similarly, can you tell me one word that you feel best describes your school? Why?”
Question 3: “Let’s think about the times when you’re most excited to be at school versus times when you really don’t want to be there. Tell me what those different days look like.”
Think about days when you feel curious or excited — what’s happening? Now think about the opposite — what makes those days hard?
Question 4: “Tell me about a time when you felt really connected to your school — this could be during class, at lunch, before or after school, or any other time.”
What made that moment special? What was happening around you? How did the adults and other students make you feel?
Question 5: “We hope that school is helping you grow as a person, not just learn facts. What parts of who you are do you wish your school knew about and supported better?”
This could be your interests, your family background, your dreams, your challenges — anything that makes you who you are and affects how you experience school.
Question 6: “Do you think students at your school are treated fairly by adults when they get in trouble? Why or why not?”
Question 7: “What would you want adults at school — like teachers and principals — to know about what students like you actually need to feel supported?”
Question 8: “If you could change one thing about how decisions are made at your school — like rules, activities, how classes work, or anything else — what would that be? Why?“
conclusion
That wraps up our conversation. Thank you for joining me today.
Stop the recording when applicable.
If you feel like the conversation has not gone on long enough and you’re still looking for more folks to participate, feel free to use the Facilitator Training Cards from the training.