Students take the lead: Huntley High teens offer lessons on classroom engagement

In an innovative approach to professional learning, four Huntley High School students took the lead in guiding teachers through a conversation on what true classroom engagement looks like on Institute Day on April 24.

The student-led session, “What Engagement Looks Like: Lessons from Students,” flipped the traditional model of professional development by positioning students as the experts.

Through hands-on activities, real-world examples, and student-led strategies, teachers experienced firsthand how engagement can be fostered in meaningful ways.

The student presenters (senior Niko Knanishu, junior Emma Jorgensen, sophomore Anushka Chakraborty and freshman Lohith Seera) shared insights gathered from their peers, offering a unique and authentic perspective on the learning experience.

Rather than focusing on compliance or simply being “on task,” students reported that engagement is when learning feels connected to people, real life, and their future.

The session challenged educators to distinguish between surface-level engagement and deeper learning. Students explained that true engagement occurs when students are curious, challenged, and have a voice in the learning process.

Participants were guided through classroom scenarios to analyze varying levels of engagement and reflect on current instructional practices. The scenarios contrasted traditional, teacher-directed approaches with more collaborative, student-centered experiences, helping educators consider how instructional design impacts student involvement.

Central to the session was student feedback collected during recent school visits. Students consistently identified several key elements that make learning engaging:

• Hands-on, collaborative learning experiences

• Real-world connections and preparation for the future

• Strong connections with teachers and peers

• Clear expectations, guidance, and communication

Building on this feedback, students introduced engagement strategies that teachers can implement immediately. These included incorporating real-world connections into lessons, increasing opportunities for student voice and choice, and designing activities that promote movement, collaboration, competition and active participation.

Students also emphasized the importance of being trusted as a partner in the learning process.

The session concluded with teachers identifying at least one student-recommended strategy to bring back to their classrooms, reinforcing the district’s commitment to continuous improvement and student-centered learning.

See below for testimonials of teachers, administrators and students who participated:

• Jaclynn Avner, Huntley High family and consumer science teacher:

“Seeing our students lead professional development was impressive. They had such ownership over their lesson and clearly felt passionate about the opportunity. The engagement strategies they discussed served as excellent reminders of the importance of differentiation and student buy-in.”

• Suzanne Starnes, Huntley High English teacher

“One new engagement strategy I would like to implement moving forward is finding ways to ‘gamify’ some of my content when appropriate. Incorporating game-based elements such as friendly competition, challenges, rewards, or interactive review activities could help increase student motivation and participation.”

• Mark Petryniec, creative communications teacher at Marlowe Middle School

“It was amazing to see students leading a professional development session and being able to hear feedback directly from them. It was a nice reminder to keep lessons engaging for the kids! The kids showed a high energy introduction which was a great way to start.”

• Anushka Chakraborty, Huntley High sophomore and co-presenter

“As a student, it was interesting to see what teachers experience every day as it can be difficult to get everyone engaged and talk over a large group of people. This was an amazing experience that not only gave me a unique perspective but also allowed teachers the opportunity to learn and hear from students.”

• Niko Knanishu, Huntley High senior and co-presenter

“I hope staff will use the feedback from Huntley 158 students to improve our classrooms and that student-led professional development will continue in the future!"

• Paula Moan, director of elementary curriculum

“Nothing is more important than listening to our students as we work to continuously improve learning in our schools. Their perspectives on engagement offer powerful insight into what truly supports their growth as college- and career-ready learners. When we center their voices and act on their ideas, we ensure our professional learning stays focused where it matters most — on creating meaningful, responsive experiences for every student in District 158.”

• Amy MacCrindle, assistant superintendent for learning and innovation

“By elevating student voice in professional development, Huntley 158 continues to model what it means to create responsive, engaging learning environments. We know that when students are actively involved, challenged, and connected to their learning, engagement becomes not just visible, but transformative.”