District Hosts Conference to Empower Latinx Students

Apr 23 2025

Earlier this month, Latinx students from Karshner Elementary, Aylen and Kalles Junior High, and Puyallup High School (PHS) participated in the 1st Annual La Chispa Student Leadership District Conference.

Hosted by the Association of Washington Student Leaders, La Chispa (The Spark) is an English and Spanish-speaking program for middle school-aged Latinx students, strengthening their self-confidence, cultural identity, and academic success.

Selected by their teachers, Karshner, Aylen, and Kalles students attended the half-day program at PHS and engaged in various activities and lessons, such as:

Building an academic identity through positive connections with Latinx student role models from PHS.
Experiencing a bilingual and biliterate environment that promotes the value of reading, writing, and speaking in two languages.
Learning essential leadership and life skills, such as goal setting, team building, different leadership styles, resilience, community service, and navigating a bi-cultural existence.

Three PSD Students participating in a team building activity in the Puyallup High Gym, holding a light green ribbon together. They are wearing name badges and casual clothing, including an Atlanta Braves City Connect Jersey, while conveying focus and teamwork.

Kalles Junior High Principal Ron Hartley explained that with the rising population of Latinx Families in the Puyallup School District Community, supporting them in connecting to their culture and history is essential.

"We (educators) want to make sure we're honoring their (Latinx students) cultures and traditions," Hartley said. "Relatives, parents or grandparents who made the journey to the US often sacrificed a lot and left a lot behind in order to create a better future for their children. The best thing we can do to honor them and their hard work and sacrifice to get us here is for us to be successful. That's all every parent wants."

Puyallup High Student in an orange "¡La Chispa!" shirt speaks into a microphone in the Puyallup High gym, while another student mentor in the same shirt looks on, expressing focus and engagement.

Puyallup High La Chispa Student Mentors in orange t-shirts that says "¡La Chispa!" standing in the Puyallup High Gym. One holds a microphone, speaking with focus and confidence. Others listen attentively.

PHS Senior Samantha Zapata, who served as a mentor and peer at the conference, shared how meaningful it is to see more representation and opportunities for Latinx students throughout the district.

"I didn't have this opportunity when I was in junior high," Zapata said. "I think I would have really appreciated to see all the opportunities that Latinos have in high school. Also, I have a younger brother, so I'm really happy that this is starting so that when he is going into high school."

Aylen 9th Grade Student Eduardo Gonzalez Zuniga reflected on the impact of the meaningful conversations that brought him together with other students.

"It's important to find similarities in each other," Zuniga said. It's comforting to have conversations with others who can relate to your joys and struggles. It reminds us that we are not alone in our journey."