Bold By Choice Podcast | S3 E3: Hear from Dr. Sundai Riggins

Designed with Students

A reflection from Dr. Sundai Riggins

When people ask what makes Inspired Teaching Demonstration School unique, I often return to a simple truth. Our school is not designed for students. It is designed with them. Every part of our model reflects a belief that children are capable, creative, and ready to lead when adults create the right conditions around them.

In our conversation on the Bold By Choice Podcast, I had the opportunity to share what this looks like in real time. One of the clearest examples is our annual spring production. What began as an idea sketched on chart paper has grown into a fully student-led experience. Backstage, you can watch students organize props, manage costume changes, solve problems as they arise, and support one another with a level of professionalism that continues to amaze me. Adults assist quietly along the edges, but the responsibility sits with our students. They handle it with pride, intention, and genuine care for one another. That is what happens when young people are trusted and prepared to lead.

This same philosophy shapes our academic program. Our goal is not simply to deliver instruction. It is to spark inquiry. We begin with the big questions students deserve to wrestle with, then design learning experiences that help them discover answers. That approach has pushed us to expand opportunities, including offering Algebra I and Geometry to all learners, elevating the complexity of our texts, and using meaningful data to adjust instruction without losing sight of student curiosity. We refuse to fit students into outdated models. Instead, we look closely at who they are today and design for the learners in front of us.

Being a demonstration school means our practice is public. We mentor early career educators. We welcome visitors openly. We share what is working and what still needs work. Openness has become a core part of our identity, and it strengthens us. Feedback flows from students, from families, from alumni, and from colleagues. Students propose new clubs, classes, and projects. Families show up in powerful ways through events, celebrations, and partnerships. Alumni return to help with productions, dances, and reading days. Once you enter our community, you remain part of it.

As we look ahead, our vision is clear. We are not chasing the next trend. We are deepening what we know matters most. We want students to leave our school fully aware that their voices matter, that they deserve to be heard, and that they can advocate for themselves and others. Agency is not something we teach as a lesson. It is something students practice every day, and it is something they will carry with them long after they leave our building.

This year, my students have taught me once again that joy is powerful. Their joy is purposeful, resilient, and grounding. It reminds me that when a school is built on connection and belonging, learning becomes a natural extension of community.

I am grateful to share our story on the Bold By Choice Podcast and honored to lead a school community that believes in young people at the deepest level. If our conversation inspires you, I invite you to listen and learn more about what it means to truly design school with students.

Listen to the Episode

🎧 Season 3, Episode 3 – “Designed with Students”
Featuring Dr. Sundai Riggins, Inspired Teaching Demonstration School