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Year Two: 2021-2022

YEAR TWO - 2021-22 
The formal sessions for the Think Tank began in January 2022 though Cohort 1 met and planned throughout summer and fall 2021. We undertook research projects during the spring semester and maintained the same committees as established during our first year: Equity, Mental Health, and Curriculum. 

Our research this year was based on our new guiding questions:

  1. Equity: How can PUSD create an equitable restorative justice system and break past the system’s inherent discrimination against black and brown students?
  2. Mental Health: How can PUSD identify and create an equitable structure to offer access to mental health resources for those who are most in need?
  3. Curriculum: What is the impact of critical pedagogy on both students and teachers? How can we as students and staff integrate critical pedagogy into the whole curriculum?

On April 28, 2022, we offered a presentation to PUSD's Board and community and shared research from our past two years. The Board was responsive and supportive of our work.

A highlight of the evening was a call to action in which we requested that the Board provide us with a governance structure that would lead to one student representative being appointed to the PUSD board with an equal vote. The request led to a Board discussion about how such an action could happen in the district.

To view the slideshow, click here
To view the video click here
Make sure to watch the video 3 hours after the starting point in order to hear the Think Tank!

 

Back row: Board Member Tina Fredericks, PUSD Superintendent Brian McDonald, Board Member Patrick Cahalan, Board President Elizabeth Pomeroy, Board Member Jennifer Hall Lee, Board Member Kimberly Kenne, Board Member Michelle Richardson Bailey
Admin and Teachers: Literacy & Dual Language Specialist Jose Ortega, Marshall Ethnic Studies instructor Andrea Flores, Assistant Superintendent Helen Chan Hill, Muir HS Ethnic Studies instructor Manuel Rustin,  PHS Ethnic Studies instructor David Flores, Muir HS English instructor Tatam Dao, Blair HS Ethnic Studies instructor Rhyna Vasquez, Think Tank Facilitator Sehba Sarwar
Students: Addie, Lisbeth, Sophie, Naomi, Paulina, Lauren, Finney, Leo, Jesus, Celeste, Miguel, Morgan, Parami, River, Ella, Gabrielle, Stephanie, Natalia, Mya, Asha, Kira, Maude.

think tank

 

Think Tank students at Pacific Oaks College in April, planning their presentation for the April 28, 2022 PUSD Board Meeting.
Back row from left to right: Jesus (PHS '23), Maude (Marshall '24), Miguel (PHS '22), Lisbeth (Blair '24), Leo (PHS '22), Finney (Marshall '23), Sophia Chou (Marshall '25)
Front row: Natalia (PHS '24), Gabrielle (PHS '24), Paulina (PHS '24), Ella (Muir '22), Mya (PHS '23)
 

2021-22 Cohort 2 Selection Process

The Think Tank expanded our base for 2021-22, and twenty-two students from Blair, Marshall, Muir and Pasadena High School were accepted into the Think Tank’s second cohort.  

Virtual interviews were conducted by a peer review team that consisted of juniors and seniors: Parami , Celeste, Mya, Naomi, Miguel, and Isabella (Ella). The Think Tank’s adult advisory team supported the interview process.

2021-22 Cohort One: Sofia (she/her, PHS, '22), Addie  (she/her, PHS, '23), Parami (she/her, PHS, '23), Celeste (she/her, PHS, '22), Mya (they/them, PHS, '22), Naomi (she/her, PHS, '22), Camila (she/her, PHS, '22), Miguel (he/him, PHS, '22), and Ella (she/they, Muir, '22)

2021-22 Cohort Two

Blair International Baccalaureate School: 
Elena (she/her, '24), Sophie (she/her, '24), David (he/him, '24), Lisbeth (she/her, '24), Arlington (they'24), Cynthia ('24)
Marshall Fundamental High School:
Kira (any, '24), Maude ('24), Stephanie (she/her, '23), Finney (Alex)  (she/her, '23), Sophia (she/her, '25)
John Muir High School Early College Magnet:
Asha (she/her, '24), Lauren (she/her, '24), Liberty (she/her, '23), Ewan (he/him, '25), River (they/them, '25)
Pasadena High School:
Morgan (she/her, '24), Gabrielle (she/her, '24), Natalia (she/her, '24), Jesus (they/them, '23), Leo (him/him, '22), Paulina (she/her, '25)

 

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Screenshot view of Think Tank virtual meeting

Think Tank Members (left to right, starting from top row):

Cohort One 2020-2022 (9 members): 

Sofia Carmenate (she/her PHS ’22), Addie Dale (she/her, PHS ’23), Parami De Silva (she/her, PHS ’23), Celeste Edell (she/her, PHS ’22), Mya Hernandez (they/them, PHS ’23), Naomi Moore (she/her, PHS ’22), Camila Morales-Guevara (she/her, PHS ’22), Miguel Roybal-Monzo (he/him, PHS ’22), Ella Uriu (she/they, Muir ’22). 

Cohort Two 2021-22 (22 members):

Natalia Abadjian (she/her, PHS ’24), Liberty Alderton (she/her) Muir ‘23), Asha Bailey (she/her Muir ‘24 ), Stephanie Barcenas (she/her Marshall ‘23), Finney Brownstein (she/her, Marshall ‘23), Kira Burson (Any, Marshall ‘24), Sophia Chou (she/her, Marshall ‘25),  Morgan Gaskell (she/her, PHS ’24), Jesus Gonzalez (they/them, PHS ’23),  Lauren Gray (she/her Muir ’24), Elena Grigoryan (she/her Blair ’24), River Henry-Vasquez (they/them Muir ‘25), Lisbeth Jara (she/her) (Blair ’24), David Kunitake (he/him) (Blair ’24), Ewan Lamond (he/him Muir ‘25), Leo Long (he/him, PHS ’22), Paulina McConnell (she/her, PHS ’25), Arlington Pacheco (he/her, Blair ’24), Sophie Shahinian (she/her, Blair ’24), Gabrielle Trujillo (she/her, PHS ‘24) Cynthia Vanesian (she/her Blair ’24), Maude Windsor (she/they, Marshall ’24)

Think Tank Facilitator: Sehba Sarwar (she/her)

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