The results of the culture and climate survey allow administrators to see what groups feel unheard on campus and make a more welcoming environment for students, Assistant Principal Jonathan Mach said.
Being able to meet with every student is impossible, but administrators use the breakdowns and feedback given from the survey to create change on campus, Assistant Principal Sean Anglon said.
“There’s so many different problems for different kids,” Mach said. “We can’t figure out what it is that we need to work on today because it just feels like there’s a million things that go on in a kid’s head.”
From the results of the survey, administrators found that many students who did not fit into the standard gender norm felt disconnected to the campus, Mach added. Next year, MHS will offer Ethnic Studies LGBTQ+ to help students who don’t fit into standard gender norms feel more seen at school, he added.
“Mr. Webber is slotted to teach that class next year, as somebody who can give a lot of guidance on what the people within that community can do to be able to advocate and educate,” Mach said.
Many administrators understand that there is a disconnect between students and staff based on the results of the survey, Anglon said.
“We can work together,” Mach said. “And it’s not that you have to take the first step, but steps have to be taken all over the place until we find something that does work.”
A school is a place to get educated and feel accepted, Mach said. The Ethnic Studies LGBTQ+ class is one of the things the school is implementing to create such an environment, he added.
“One of my own personal goals is trying to visit every club throughout the semester,” Anglon said. “If students see that admin as well as teachers are interested in their clubs, that also gives them that sense that we care about more than just their grades. We care about some of their passions.”
The survey results are brought to a staff meeting, and an action plan for the survey is determined with teacher input, Mach said. It is difficult to make changes that accommodate everyone because there are so many different people at this school, Mach said.
Administration figures out a lot, “from making the right choices at school to what catering trucks do we get,” Mach said. “If I just get the tacos then people don’t like tacos. But if I get sushi, then people that can’t eat sushi. All those conversations happen.”
Bridging the gap between students and staff members can make students feel much more connected to the campus, especially when they first come to the high school, senior Haleta Ayalew said.
“If we could interact with them (staff) more, I feel that we might improve understanding between each other,” Ayalew said.
Being able to build understanding between staff and students more will lead to more change that can help students feel more connected to the school, Anglon said. To help build these connections, administrators have been planning bonding activities for students to attend and meet staff outside of just a classroom setting, Anglon said.
“I’m trying to work with San Jose City College to see if we can get some students to attend an event in March,” Anglon said. “I’m also working on a little project with the counselors and some teachers and it’s designed specifically to build more connections.”
The survey can only address so many issues, and students are urged to book a meeting with administrators to address deeper concerns, Mach said.
“We just have to figure it out, with everything—how do we all accept each other and find that (common) interest?” Mach said.