Timber Ridge student urges district to boost teacher pay, mental-health supports and launch volunteer program

Ayesha Chobda, a Timber Ridge Middle School student invited to speak by the board, told trustees teacher mental health affects classrooms and student outcomes and presented a three-step proposal: improve teacher compensation and mental-health supports (she referenced the American Teacher Act proposal to raise minimum teacher pay to $60,000), expand partnerships with nonprofits and businesses for resources and support, and build a student volunteer program to assist teachers with routine tasks.

Ayesha said she launched a petition and contacted Representative Lauren Underwood to advocate for salary changes and that a local teacher survey she conducted showed 84% of responding teachers would welcome classroom volunteers. The board thanked her and invited a photo following the presentation; no formal board action was taken on her recommendations during the meeting.

The student framed teacher mental health as a matter affecting the entire school community and suggested specific next steps the district could explore in collaboration with local organizations.