Leading with Listening: How Student Voice Strengthens Strategy, Culture, and Trust
Students are at the heart of our work — yet too often, their voices are left out of the conversations that shape their learning and experience. Authentic engagement starts with listening. In this one-hour session, Susan Brott, APR, shares practical strategies for authentically engaging students as partners — not just in communication, but in the decisions that define district culture, priorities and trust. Learn how to design age-appropriate listening opportunities, create safe and inclusive spaces for honest dialogue, and use student insights to inform messaging, planning and policy. Through real-world examples and facilitation insights, you’ll discover how elevating student voice can strengthen relationships, guide meaningful change and inspire a more connected, responsive school community.
Speaker
Susan Brott, APR, is a trusted school communications leader with more than 25 years of experience guiding districts through change with clarity and connection. A nationally recognized facilitator and advocate for authentic engagement, she specializes in elevating student and stakeholder voice to strengthen culture, build trust, and inform strategic decisions. As a senior strategist with CESO Communications, she partners with education leaders nationwide to embed engagement as a leadership practice that empowers students, staff, and families to co-author their district’s story. A past president of MinnSPRA and recipient of both NSPRA’s Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award and MinnSPRA’s Dawn K. McDowell Award, Susan is widely known for her expertise in stakeholder facilitation and her passion for amplifying student voice to drive meaningful change.
