Today our guest is Sonia Ruiz, Principal at Jane Addams Middle School in Bolingbrook, Illinois and 2026 National Middle Level Principal of the Year. Sonia shares how her school built a system for gathering student voice that goes beyond surveys, turning what students share into concrete action, staff training, and a more inclusive school community.
She also explains why collecting student voice only matters if it leads somewhere, and how her team uses what they hear to change systems, equip staff with practical tools, and ensure that every student, including those in multi-needs programs, has a named adult connection in the building.
In this conversation, Sonia offers important reminders for educators and leaders:
- Asking students what makes them feel like they belong, and whether they can name a person they connect with, gives schools far more useful information than a standard survey scale ever will.
- Gathering student voice without acting on it is a missed opportunity. The real work begins after you hear what students are carrying and what they wish adults knew.
- Belonging is not a feel-good add-on. It is the foundation that makes academic risk-taking, vulnerability, and growth possible in the first place.
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About Sonia Ruiz:
Sonia E. Ruiz is the Principal of Jane Addams Middle School in Bolingbrook, Illinois, where her leadership has guided the school to Exemplary Status for three years in a row. A proud Latina leader, Sonia has dedicated her career to ensuring that every student learns at high levels in safe, supportive, and inclusive school communities.