Empowering Students through the GOA Student Ambassador Program
Students listen to other students differently than they listen to adults. We know this intuitively from our own lived experiences, what we witness on social media, and what we see in schools. We frequently ask students how they hear about GOA courses in their schools. In a recent student survey, almost 20% of GOA students who responded said that the primary way they heard about their GOA course was from a peer. The influence students have over one another extends to their educational journeys. During the 2023-24 academic year, we developed a student leadership program to elevate the GOA student experience by providing a platform for students to share their educational journeys, support their peers in online learning, and further develop their collaborative skills. The GOA Student Ambassadors Program offers students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and influence how students learn.
Sharing Their GOA Stories
Student Ambassadors believe in the transformative power of GOA for student learning. They are passionate about empowering others to lean into their interests. Ambassadors encourage their peers to explore their passions and take advantage of the diverse course offerings at GOA. Through sharing their personal learning journeys, they inspire others to pursue their interests.
Through GOA courses, students develop essential communication, collaboration, and organizational skills. Ambassadors highlight the relevance and importance of these competencies, emphasizing how they’ve benefited from them in real-world contexts.
“My favorite part of the GOA Student Ambassador program is that we, as student ambassadors, can share GOA’s specialized and unique course offerings with our friends, classmates, and families,” Michael C., GOA Student Ambassador at Rutgers Prep.
Supporting Peers
Before beginning their work as Student Ambassadors, students complete training that includes a framework for peer support and coaching. The goal of the Student Ambassador in each school is to empower GOA students to achieve their goals and succeed in their courses. Student Ambassadors help their peers to GROW by coaching them through their GOA experiences.
Ambassadors are trained to listen and offer guidance to their peers, understanding that students often relate to and learn better from each other than from adults. By helping new students navigate their first GOA experience and sharing tips on managing coursework, Student Ambassadors foster a supportive community.
Tory Virchow is the Site Director at The Potomac School in Virginia (USA). She partnered with her school’s Student Ambassador to set students up for success. “Our Student Ambassador, Leila, was an instant resource for our students new to GOA classes,” says Virchow. “Friendly and approachable and having taken several GOA classes already, Leila was able to offer immediate support to students as they learned to navigate Canvas, organize their workload, and get accustomed to Twist. Most importantly, she understood GOA from a student perspective, so her advice was often more practical and helpful than any I could give as a Site Director!”
“I love being a GOA Ambassador because I can help guide people on their GOA journey,” James M., GOA Student Ambassador at The Bolles School.
Collaborating with the GOA Team
In the GOA Student Program, Student Ambassadors had the opportunity to collaborate with peers and teachers from different places around the world. The GOA Student Ambassador Program provides an opportunity for students to further develop their collaborative skills by working with members of the GOA team on short projects. Student Ambassadors worked with GOA’s communications team to write blogs and create graphics for GOA publications.
Original student art by Janessa W., GOA student ambassador at Hamden Hall Country Day School
Student Ambassadors provided feedback to the GOA student program team on how competency-based learning is implemented in GOA’s courses. They worked with the GOA design lab to incubate ideas for future courses. And they worked with the engagement team to create marketing materials. All of these projects offered students a chance to collaborate with professionals, build their resumes, and provide their feedback in order to help shape the future of GOA. “I’m excited to be a GOA Ambassador,” said Evan D, the Student Ambassador at Wooster School, “because I get to influence and help real teams improve.”
Micah Whitley, GOA’s Associate Director of Student Experience, noted the impact of the Student Ambassadors on the organization, saying, “Ambassadors' insights are helping to shape our understanding of the student experience and inform the directions and decisions we pursue for future updates.”
Conclusion
The GOA Student Ambassador Program is a powerful initiative that enhances student leadership, fosters peer support, and amplifies student voices. By sharing their stories, supporting their peers, and continually developing their collaborative skills, GOA Student Ambassadors make a significant impact in their school communities and at GOA.
“I enjoy being a GOA Ambassador because it has given me the opportunity to develop meaningful connections with students and teachers from all around the world,” Rohan D., GOA Student Ambassador at The Galloway School.
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GOA serves students, teachers, and leaders and is comprised of member schools from around the world, including independent, international, charter, and public schools. Learn more about Becoming a Member. Our professional learning opportunities are open to any educator or school team. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. To stay up to date on GOA learning opportunities, sign up for our newsletter.