The proportion of Sonoma and Creekside high school students selecting 4 or 5 on the scale increased from December 2019 to January 2024 to 41% from 36% in engagement, 16% from 14% in culture, and 24% from 17% in college and career preparation. , while it drops to 33% from 37% in belonging and peer collaboration and to 26% from 28% in relationships.

Also, 39% of Sonoma Valley and Creekside high school students surveyed in January 2024 agreed or strongly agreed that when they feel upset, stressed or have problems, their school has programs or services that can help them, compared up 22% in January 2022. The proportion of middle school students who strongly agree or agree with this item also increased over the period, to 44% from 38%.

“Students at the secondary level have access to multiple support staff, including counselors, school psychologists and clinical mental health staff,” said Camille Garcia, social worker for the school district. “School programming has also expanded to create more awareness about seeking support and how to do so.

“We empowered student voices to lead the way in creating more school-wide opportunities for students to destigmatize mental health and seek help for challenging situations.”

Winders praised Beall, as well as the district’s wellness centers and staff, for the progress made in helping more students feel supported.

“They put in countless hours and were so dedicated to their work,” Winders said. “We also had incredible leadership in this work with our superintendent (Jeanette Rodriguez-Chien). She is on campus, meeting students and staff, listening in empathy circles, and engaging directly with students about their feelings, needs, feedback, and making sure they have a voice and feel heard.

“I think our students see, feel, and most importantly, I think they are important to us and that we see them as whole people. It’s a team effort to make sure our students know and feel how much we care about them.”

The survey shows that the portions of students at El Verano, Flowery, Prestwood and Sassarini elementary schools feeling positive (on a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being positive, 2 neutral and 3 negative) was 82% engaged, 42 % in academic. challenges, 75% in relationships, 21% in culture, 59% in training methods and 33% in belonging.

“We are pleased to see students reporting high levels in the areas of engagement and relationships,” Beall said. “As an elementary team, we will continue to delve into the areas of culture and belonging, especially in the area of ​​positive peer connections.”

Beall said overall, the survey also shows middle, middle and high school students feel happier and more relaxed than they did in 2023.

“This is significant because we know that emotional well-being is closely related to academic success and overall development,” she said.

Beall said the Youth Truth Survey is valuable because it allows the district to track progress on multiple measures each year and thereby identify areas of strength as well as needed growth.

“While having a mechanism to provide anonymous feedback, such as Youth Truth, is integral to our improvement process, it is equally beneficial to provide opportunities for more open feedback through processes such as listening circles,” she said . “They allow more detailed experiences and thoughts to be expressed to lead to a better understanding of a particular individual’s experiences.

“Those individuals are also able to articulate clear thoughts and ideas about how best to move forward in a particular area.”

Winders said when addressing issues of concern, the district must be specific, thoughtful, intentional and comprehensive.

“You have to do the job carefully and follow through,” she said. “This is work being done and work that must continue. It’s about being honest in your work and being willing to admit when something isn’t working and then fix it, while making sure we include the voices of those who historically haven’t been included and given a place at the table.”

Reach reporter Dan Johnson at [email protected].