Atlanta Public Schools held the 2026 Student Leader Symposium at Georgia State University on Feb. 27, bringing together student leaders from across the district for a day focused on civic dialogue, leadership development, and planning for the future.
The event was designed as a collaborative experience, with students taking an active role in organizing and leading sessions. The symposium aimed to highlight the importance of student voice in shaping district progress and decision-making.
Laila Shannon, chair of the APS Student Advisory Council and senior at Drew Charter School, served as emcee. The morning included remarks from Georgia State University Student Government Association leaders, Mayor Andre Dickens, Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson, and Atlanta Board of Education Chair Jessica Johnson. Each speaker emphasized that student leadership is essential to the district’s success.
Taylor Harper, a senior at Drew Charter School and SAC member, said: “I had a great time at the symposium. I had so much fun with my peers and I will take all of the knowledge I learned today into my future SGA meetings.”
A keynote alumni panel titled “APS to the World: Lessons from Alumni” featured former Student Advisory Council delegates reflecting on how their experiences shaped their confidence and leadership beyond high school. Throughout the day, students participated in breakout sessions covering advocacy, leadership skills, governance strategies, career pathways, and community engagement. Adult advisors attended workshops focused on supporting student leaders without overshadowing them.
One session called “All the Smoke: Fighting for What’s Right Inside & Beyond APS,” facilitated by Dr. Carina Windom and others, helped students understand authentic advocacy through interactive activities based on Cornell University’s Engaging in Collective Action framework. Another session co-developed by Dr. Rashida Askia taught students how to turn passion into purposeful community action.
Post-event survey data showed strong satisfaction among participants: about 97% rated session content clarity highly; 91% found sessions relevant; and 95% rated delivery positively. Students also suggested more focus on mental health topics, college planning resources, practical life skills like financial literacy and time management, as well as emerging interests such as artificial intelligence.
Dr. Kyra Caldwell Templeton described the event as “student-powered,” saying: “From the theme and session topic selections, to the panel facilitation, students were the focus. We hope that this symposium truly inspired our future leaders to action.”
The symposium underscored Atlanta Public Schools’ commitment to embedding authentic student voice into its systems and strategy.
