Community Partnership / Guest Planner

Start with purpose

A guest should not be invited simply because having a guest sounds exciting. Start with what students are learning, whose perspective would deepen that learning, and what students should be able to do before, during, and after the interaction.

• Why this person?
• Why now?
• What can students learn from them that they cannot get as well from a worksheet or quick search?

Choose guests because they bring a meaningful perspective

Possible guests may include educators, community leaders, elders, parents, professionals, local experts, alumni, artists, tradespeople, business owners, or people with important stories.

Prepare students to do real listening

Students can research the person or topic, develop thoughtful questions, practice introductions, decide who will ask what, and prepare to follow up on something interesting rather than just reading a list.

Protect student ownership

Adults can support logistics, privacy, permissions, appropriateness, interviewing, and troubleshooting without turning the experience into an adult-run performance.

Respect the community you are actually in

The BAGO Mic is rooted in Winnebago Public Schools and the Winnebago community. Other educators should not copy culturally specific language, traditions, greetings, or identity elements. The transferable question is: Whose voices, stories, experiences, and expertise matter in your own community?

Do something with the conversation

After the guest leaves, students should reflect, create, write, discuss, publish where appropriate, or identify how the conversation changed what they understand.

Nicholas in Practice

The BAGO Mic expanded beyond students talking to one another. Community guests helped students practice real communication, hear perspectives outside the classroom, and represent their school with purpose. The strongest guest experiences connected students, school, and community rather than treating the visitor as entertainment.

Community Partnership / Guest Planner

• Purpose: What should students learn or experience?
• Guest: Who could add a perspective we do not already have?
• Connection: Why does this person fit the learning?
• Preparation: What do students need to know first?
• Questions: What are 5–8 strong student-generated questions?
• Roles: Who introduces, asks, follows up, thanks, and documents?
• Logistics: date, location, permissions, technology, accessibility, privacy considerations
• Follow-up: What will students do with what they learned?
• Reflection: What should we change next time?

Printable Tool

1-Page Community / Guest Planner

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Go Deeper on the Podcast

The BAGO Mic Student Podcast: How Student Voice Changed My Teaching

Listen to the Episode

Sources & Credit

Nicholas’s BAGO Mic and school-community experience. Preserve Winnebago/community context. The planner should encourage educators to build from their own local community rather than reproducing culturally specific Winnebago elements.