Thirty high school girls representing 10 campuses across the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) recently participated in the Girls Policy Leadership program. The two-day institute, hosted by Voice4Equity and Discovery Education, focused on empowering young women to engage in policy discussions relevant to their schools, communities, and futures.

The program, held over two days in March, began on March 21st with an opportunity for the students to connect with each other and with female district leaders who shared their own leadership journeys and goals. Deputy Superintendent Patti Salzmann encouraged the students, stating, "In any challenge in your life you can choose to step up or step aside. The fact that you are in this room is an acknowledgment that you chose to step up."

The students then engaged in brainstorming sessions to identify areas within their own experiences and communities that could benefit from positive change. They self-selected topics and formed groups based on shared interests. The issues they chose to address included access to STEM education and mental health care, racial discrimination, dress code policies, and access to higher education for under-resourced schools.

SAISD Superintendent Jaime Aquino expressed his admiration for the students' engagement, saying, "It was truly inspiring to witness our female scholars identify the policy issues they are passionate about and are eager to address in order to strengthen our communities. Each student brought unique perspectives that are essential to shaping the future of our schools and communities."

On the second day of the program, March 29th, the students further developed their policy ideas and presented them to the group. They also received guidance on how to cultivate their civic voice on issues that are important to them.

Nancy Caldera, a junior from Highlands High School who was recommended for the program by her JROTC instructor, found the experience valuable, stating, "I think this is a great learning experience and I really liked it."

Jazelle Puente, a senior at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy and a 2024 United States Youth Ambassador, brought prior advocacy experience to the program. Having advocated in Brazil for increased information about higher education for first-generation college students, Puente noted the program was a beneficial reminder of the power of collective advocacy. "Everyone has a different background and people may not be aware of that, but as long as you are the voice advocating, there is someone fighting for your community," Puente said. "It just reminds you that you have a voice and it’s very important to represent your community and speak up about the issues you see."