The Santa Cruz County Office of Education (Santa Cruz COE) is pleased to announce it has received a 2024 Golden Bell Award for its countywide student leadership program, the Youth Led Leadership Alliance (YLLA).
A program of the California School Boards Association, the Golden Bell Awards recognize outstanding programs and governance practices in school districts and county offices of education throughout California. YLLA was awarded the 2024 Golden Bell Award in the Student Engagement and Empowerment program category, one of 21 categories recognized by the statewide awards program in its 45th year.
YLLA is a network of topically focused groups that develop and empower student leaders from high schools across Santa Cruz County. The alliance was founded in 2020 with the goal of building bridges across communities, backgrounds, and identities through a shared passion to explore issues, create projects, and engage in grassroots advocacy while fostering civic engagement and critical thinking skills.
“Our mission is to create a platform where students can express their opinions and ideas, build leadership skills, and drive change in their communities,” said Dr. Faris Sabbah, Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools. “The Youth Led Leadership Alliance provides a powerful platform for students across our county to learn, engage, and lead. From hosting summits that convene hundreds of their peers, to painting murals, to directly engaging with district leadership and the Santa Cruz County Board of Education, I am so proud of all that our students have accomplished. We are so grateful to CSBA for this recognition, which underscores the impact and importance of student voice in our school community.”
YLLA’s student-led model ensures equitable access for all students, regardless of identity, background, or location. Students from every comprehensive high school in Santa Cruz County were represented in the program as of the 2023-24 school year.
Student leaders involved with YLLA groups develop and complete projects such as an annual environmental summit, a countywide Black Graduation Ceremony, painting murals, publishing informational videos and zines, and hosting showcases for their peers. Each YLLA group presents to the Santa Cruz County Board of Education at the end of the year to share about its work and impact and advocate on behalf of students.
“Seeing students bring their authentic selves, step forward into leadership roles, advocate for issues they’re passionate about, and engage with local leaders is incredibly inspiring,” said Andres Ortiz, Student Leadership and Engagement Coordinator at the Santa Cruz COE. “The success of this program highlights the power of student voice when we remove barriers and provide students with a platform to speak.”
Surveying at the end of the 2023-24 school year found that 85% of participants believe their experience in YLLA will positively impact their future careers or academic studies, while 92% credited YLLA with expanding their leadership skills.
The Santa Cruz COE will be honored alongside other statewide recipients at the Golden Bell Awards Reception and Ceremony on December 5 in Anaheim, California. Additional information about the Golden Bell Awards is available at awards.csba.org/golden-bell.
YLLA kicked off for the 2024-25 school year in September. High school students in Santa Cruz County are invited to join any of its seven topically focused groups at any time throughout the year. For more information and to submit an interest form, visit studentleadership.santacruzcoe.org.