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This past summer offered a lesson that will shape how I see the work of building systems as we begin this school year: when students are invited into the systems that shape a district, they do not just contribute. They transform them.

Our inaugural summer Communications Internship reminded me of the creativity, clarity, and perspective that students bring when given authentic responsibility. It also took me back to my own first years as a high school teacher, when the best part of each day was the energy, curiosity, and connection students carried into the classroom. Now, more than thirty years into my career, I experienced that same joy again, this time through the lens of district leadership, where student voice strengthens not just classrooms, but the systems that serve them.

From Facilities and Technology to Communications

Edison Township has long offered student internships in facilities and technology, giving high school students meaningful opportunities to contribute to the operational backbone of our schools. This summer, we expanded that model to communications. They:

• Supported website design, social media planning, and posts

• Developed branding guidelines

• Analyzed chatbot data to refine website content

• Assisted with video production and app development

Their fingerprints are on resources families and staff will use throughout the year, from back-to-school hubs to core website tools.

Interns as System Builders

What made this program so powerful was that every task was tied to our broader strategic plan. These students were not just busy. They were building. Over time, they became a team. 

At the start, a cross-section of students from different grade levels and both high schools sat quietly in a room together, most not knowing one another. By the end of the summer, that silence had turned into chatter, collaboration, and friendship. Their contributions were so meaningful that they volunteered to continue supporting communications throughout the school year, sustaining both the connection and the momentum.

For me, this was also a gift. In a district as large as ours, direct connection with students can sometimes be rare in the daily pace of leadership. This initiative re-centered my 鈥渨hy鈥� by bringing me back into daily contact with student voice and creativity. It reminded me that communication systems are at their best when they are built with students, not just for them.

Lessons from Student Voice

The interns also gave us a window into how communication resonates with students themselves. They asked the kinds of questions adults sometimes miss: Is this message clear? Would a parent or peer know where to click next? Does this design reflect who we are?

Their reflections captured both the skills they gained and the value of contributing to district systems.

One student shared:
鈥淚鈥檝e learned to combine technical skills with creativity. From web development to logo design to managing social media, my internship exposed me to a wide range of skills that I am excited to keep improving. One of the positives was the people; everyone in the team was fantastic to work with, and it was nice working with individuals who cared about making a difference in the district.鈥�

Another reflected on the importance of accessibility:
鈥淲orking primarily with website migrations, I learned how to condense large amounts of information into something that is useful for parents and people who view the website.鈥�

These insights underscore that communication is not just about producing content. It is about building systems that are clear, relevant, and people-centered. When students are given the opportunity, they sharpen those systems in powerful ways.

Technology, AI, and Future Readiness

This internship also intersected with the district鈥檚 integration of generative AI and digital engagement tools. Students contributed to chatbot analysis and explored AI-supported workflows, but what struck me most was how naturally they brought their own skills to the table. Many were already experimenting with AI outside of school, creating customized apps, testing design platforms, and exploring new ways to solve problems.

By channeling that knowledge into district projects, they helped us innovate in real time. Their comfort with AI and digital tools gave the team fresh insight into how these technologies can be adapted for communication and family engagement. For district leaders, this is an important reminder. 

The next generation is already living in an AI-enabled world. 

When we invite students into our systems, they help us see not only what is possible today but what is coming tomorrow.

Leadership Takeaways: Living The Public Education Promise

For district leadership, the takeaway is clear. If we want our districts to be sustainable, trusted, and prepared for the future, we must design them with authentic student participation. Internships and leadership opportunities are not extras. They are structural strategies that expand capacity, build trust, and prepare tomorrow鈥檚 leaders today.

Communication becomes stronger when it is shared. Leadership becomes stronger when it is distributed. And our districts become stronger when students help shape the systems that serve them. This is how we live out The Public Education Promise: by ensuring our learners are not only served by our systems but invited to build them, preparing our students and our communities for the future.