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Sara Melton

Sara Melton

Senior Learning DesignerFielding International

Sara Melton is a Senior Learning Designer for Fielding International, dedicated to creating schools and supporting alignment in which learners thrive. With 25 years in PK-12 public education, including 20 years as a teacher and principal, Sara brings deep expertise in instructional design and school system transformation. Passionate about empowering educators, Sara has extensively studied educational philosophy, the impact of trauma on the brain, school innovation, and motivation psychology for both children and adults. A Spanish speaker, hobby pianist, world traveler, and avid reader, Sara also serves on the Board of Education for Grand Rapids Public Schools, where she contributes to shaping equitable and innovative learning experiences for all.

Thu Oct 294:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Whose School Is It? Towards Real Inclusion of Student Voices

“Student-centered” is often claimed but rarely realized. This session pairs new national research on adolescent belonging with real-world engagement s

“Student-centered” is often claimed but rarely realized. This session pairs new national research on adolescent belonging with real-world engagement strategies that bring student voices into design decisions. Learn what students say they need to feel

“Student-centered” is often claimed but rarely realized. This session pairs new national research on adolescent belonging with real-world engagement strategies that bring student voices into design decisions. Learn what students say they need to feel connected, why those insights are often missed, and how to translate input into actionable design strategies. You’ll leave with the skills and inspiration to advocate for student voices and design sp

“Student-centered” is often claimed but rarely realized. This session pairs new national research on adolescent belonging with real-world engagement strategies that bring student voices into design decisions. Learn what students say they need to feel connected, why those insights are often missed, and how to translate input into actionable design strategies. You’ll leave with the skills and inspiration to advocate for student voices and design spaces where kids truly belong.

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EDsession (60 minutes in classrooms)Session TypeTRACK 1: Learning Spaces, Reimagined — Evolving physical spaces shaping the future of learningSession Track
Maya Fraser
Maya FraserStaff Designer, Quinn Evans
Sara Melton
Sara MeltonSenior Learning Designer, Fielding International
Tags:Group B
Allow Registration:No
Capacity Unlimited:No
Indicate how the topic is applicable to Health, Safety, Welfare (HSW) Design credits.:NA
Learner Engagement:• Opening poll asking participants to reflect on where they feel a sense of belonging in a current or past school. • Hands-on activity where participants re-imagine a space based on student feedback. • Interactive discussion on challenges that participants have experienced in incorporating student feedback into design
Learning Objective 1:Understand key research findings on adolescent belonging and how school design influences student connection and well-being.