A-Board in Review, with Andrew and Caroline
It’s impossible to bring up student leadership at CSW, and not talk about Advisory Board, or “A-Board,” as it’s known around campus. This important group of elected students makes formal recommendations to the head of school about school policy, reviewing the student handbook and bringing forth any proposed changes to Town Meeting, a central forum for discussion of important community issues. It’s safe to say that the level of influence that they possess is pretty unprecedented. It’s not every school that will trust its students with so much responsibility. But here at CSW, we do, and they’ve continuously made us proud with their maturity and aplomb.
It’s impossible to bring up student leadership at CSW, and not talk about Advisory Board, or “A-Board,” as it’s known around campus. This important group of elected students makes formal recommendations to the head of school about school policy, reviewing the student handbook and bringing forth any proposed changes to Town Meeting, a central forum for discussion of important community issues. It’s safe to say that the level of influence that they possess is pretty unprecedented. It’s not every school that will trust its students with so much responsibility. But here at CSW, we do, and they’ve continuously made us proud with their maturity and aplomb.
The members of this year’s A-Board, in particular, have taken a lot on their plates. I checked in this week with A-Board heads Andrew Gens ’18 and Caroline Keppler ’18 — the first pair of individuals to successfully run for A-Board leadership — and asked them if they felt like they’d accomplished what they set out to do this year.
“I think because the community was able to experience A-Board through multiple and very different warrants this year, people are gaining a better understanding of the type of work that we are able to do,” Caroline shared, “and I think that this is the root of the large number of ideas that we were approached with from the wider community.”
A-Board has brought a number of warrants to Town Meeting this year, broaching issues such as the school’s unexcused absence policy — particularly as it pertains to D Blocks — and most recently, a re-examination of the entire Town Meeting process as a means of legislation. Clearly, these are not cut and dry issues. The conversations that ensued were heated, and the paths we’ve taken, regardless of whether a ruling has been reached, have hardly been linear, but there is always something to be learned.
“At the end of the day, passing a warrant isn’t nearly as important as starting a conversation,” said Andrew. Still, both Andrew and Caroline admit that the process can at times be frustrating. All members of A-Board (and not just the leaders) put a lot of time and energy into creating warrants, and to have them publicly picked over in Town Meeting is difficult. Difficult, but worth it, because by merely examining one rule or process, they are able to raise new questions and ideas pertaining to separate or larger issues, that members of the community may have never otherwise considered.
Take, for instance, the Community Norms A-Board drafted earlier this year, with communal pledges to “be aware of our impact on the environment of both our campus and the greater world;” “use technology thoughtfully;” “treat all members of the community with respect;” and “show up for each other.” While time constraints prevented them from moving forward on this matter, in bringing these things up they were able to plant important seeds of thought for future leaders, and that’s what truly matters.
In speaking with Andrew and Caroline, it’s obvious what fantastic leaders they have become in such a short amount of time, and both of them speak to the advantages of being able to co-lead in this way, despite what Andrew describes as their “differing world views.” They are, through their own relationship, a prime example of why democracy works, even when it feels like things seem to be moving at a glacial pace. I applaud the two of them, and the entire A-Board leadership, on their incredible work this year.
The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.