OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Silver Creek High School Principal Wendy Harrod, left, has been impressed by the students of Silver Creek with their ability to advocate for themselves. Harrod is pictured with Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston, right.

SILVER CREEK — Just a few weeks into the school year, the Silver Creek student body has already felt comfortable turning to building leaders to advocate on their behalf.

At a recent meeting of the Silver Creek Board of Education, High School Principal Wendy Harrod and Director of Special Education Megan Cook each spoke to how students in the district have been seeking one-to-one meetings with adults in the district to create positive change.

Within the first 17 days of school, students took the initiative to schedule 12 one-to-one meetings with Harrod about various topics or concerns, from making introductions to seeking an opinion on their schedule.

“They are able to do that. They come and advocate for what they want, what they need,” Harrod said. “… Never would I have imagined having 12 of those meetings in the first 17 days of school.”

Harrod was not the only one busy with one-to-one meetings with students in the first few weeks. Cook also met with eight students who advocated on their behalf.

“That’s just a really magical thing to watch happen for kids,” Cook said.

Additionally, Harrod, while proudly giving her first presentation to the Board since becoming the High School Principal this past summer, said that her staff also vocalized their thoughts of what could be improved in the district through a discussion of action steps that can be taken.

“What I was excited about is that they took ownership in knowing what we need to do as a district,” Harrod said.

Harrod stated her desire to help staff observe what students need, along with addressing issues that are brought to them. Harrod said of her desire to collaborate with students, “We’re not doing things to kids, we’re doing things with kids. … That piece of their education, they’re holding that. We’re going to help, but they’re holding that.”

At its recent meeting, the Silver Creek Board of Education approved a partnership agreement with Winton Buddington, of Rochester, for professional development and consulting services in the amount of $10,000. A student transportation contract was authorized with Jennifer Ruth for the transportation of a particular student for an anticipated total of $21,319 for the 2025 school year. A field trip request for grades 7-8 to attend the Cleveland Zoo on May 23, 2025 was also approved.

Substitutes approved by the District include Emily Schneider, Teacher Aide; Barbara Abbatoy, Office Substitute; Brady Bartell, Cleaner; Anna Chase, Bus Driver; Sharon Huff, Teacher; and Teaching Assistants Roberta Kilburn, Mike Leamon, McKenna Miller, Bailey Zbytek, and Emily Schneider. Alyssa Abbott was also approved as a volunteer assistant coach for the junior varsity volleyball team.

Kayla Hagen was approved as a SUNY Fredonia Early Field Experience placement in the grades 7-8 literacy subject area, with cooperating teacher Janet Decker. Additionally, Emily Pound was acknowledged as a field work placement intern from Kekua College in the occupational therapy subject area.

The next Silver Creek Board of Education meeting is Thursday at 7 p.m.