Speaking Up for Our School

In October 2021, the vice president of the Philadelphia school board, Leticia Egea-Hinton, was invited to visit Casarez Elementary. The students showed her around the school they love. They also pointed out how much of the 133-year-old school needed to be fixed—inside and outside.

Egea-Hinton suggested that the students speak directly to the Philadelphia school board. She pointed out that hearing from the people most affected by the problems might convince the board to make repairs.

Assistant principal Julio Nuñez gathered Devyn and a few other student leaders, who would later become known as the Young Change Makers. Number one on their list was getting their crumbling, dangerous yard fixed.

Leticia Egea-Hinton is the vice president of the Philadelphia school board. In October 2021, she was invited to visit Casarez Elementary. The students showed her around the school they love. They also pointed out how much of the 133-year-old school needed to be fixed. It needed changes inside and outside.

Egea-Hinton suggested that the students speak directly to the Philadelphia school board. The students are affected by the school’s problems more than anyone. Egea-Hinton pointed out that hearing from them might convince the board to make repairs.

Assistant principal Julio Nuñez gathered Devyn and a few other student leaders. They would later become known as the Young Change Makers. Number one on their list was getting their crumbling, dangerous yard fixed.

The kids helped collect more than 160 signatures from parents and teachers on a petition asking for the yard to be fixed. Then, on October 29, 2021, Devyn and fellow Young Change Maker Jayden Hughes spoke to the school board on a Zoom call. They had prepared speeches about the poor condition of their schoolyard and how it affected them and their friends. 

“I was nervous,” Jayden says. “But I did it because I knew it would help change my school.”

The next morning, crews began repairing the concrete in the schoolyard. The students—and faculty—couldn’t believe it! After years of adults asking for the repairs, it was kids who finally made it happen. 

“We did that,” Devyn says proudly. “We did that by using our voices.”

The kids asked people to sign a petition to have the yard fixed. They helped collect more than 160 signatures from parents and teachers. Then, on October 29, 2021, Devyn and fellow Young Change Maker Jayden Hughes spoke to the school board on a Zoom call. They had prepared speeches. They spoke about the poor condition of their schoolyard. They talked about how that affected them and their friends. 

“I was nervous,” Jayden says. “But I did it because I knew it would help change my school.”

The next morning, crews began repairing the concrete in the schoolyard. The students—and faculty—couldn’t believe it! After years of adults asking for the repairs, it was kids who finally made it happen. 

“We did that,” Devyn says proudly. “We did that by using our voices.”

The Young Change Makers aren’t stopping there. They’re now in fifth grade and still meet every month to discuss other ways to improve their school. What’s up next? 

“We want air-conditioning in our school,” says Cindy Hernandez. “Sometimes it’s too hot to learn.”

A few days into this school year, the school closed early because temperatures in classrooms were very high.

The kids recently spoke to the school board about it. So far, the air-conditioning problem hasn’t been solved. But the Young Change Makers are going to persevere. They want to make Casarez Elementary the best it can be for future students.

“I’m willing to stay in the group until we get it all done,” says Ronald Perez.

The Young Change Makers aren’t stopping there. They’re now in fifth grade. And they still meet every month to discuss other ways to improve their school. What’s up next? 

“We want air-conditioning in our school,” says Cindy Hernandez. “Sometimes it’s too hot to learn.”

A few days into this school year, the school closed early. That’s because temperatures in classrooms were very high.

The kids recently spoke to the school board about it. So far, the air-conditioning problem hasn’t been solved. But the Young Change Makers are going to persevere. They want to make Casarez Elementary the best it can be for future students.

“I’m willing to stay in the group until we get it all done,” says Ronald Perez.

1. What is the main problem described in the text? How did the Young Change Makers help solve it?
2. Why did getting the schoolyard fixed seem hopeless at first?
3. What is the main idea of the section “More to Come”?

1. What is the main problem described in the text? How did the Young Change Makers help solve it?
2. Why did getting the schoolyard fixed seem hopeless at first?
3. What is the main idea of the section “More to Come”?