Irving Independent School District (ISD) introduced the Irving ISD Student Influencer program in October 2023. The program is an initiative designed to give high school students hands-on experience in marketing while amplifying their voices to advocate for the district. When it launched last year, the program selected nine students from the district’s four comprehensive high schools—Irving High School, MacArthur High School, Nimitz High School, and Singley Academy. These students, ranging from sophomores to seniors, were chosen through a rigorous selection process. This process required them to secure approval from their principals, submit a detailed application and video explaining why they wanted to join the program, collect recommendations from their teachers and counselors, and participate in in-person interviews with members of the Marketing and Communications team.
Superintendent of Schools Magda Hernandez praised the initiative, emphasizing its impact: “This initiative gives high school students an opportunity to have their voices amplified while establishing the brand of the district from their perspective which I love. Our students are the reason we’re able to do what we do each day, and it’s exciting to see how our Student Influencers are showcasing all of the great things our district has to offer. I am so proud of them and the work they’re doing.”
The program’s primary goal is to empower students by providing opportunities in various areas of marketing, including social media management, content creation, and event planning. These students work closely with the district’s Digital Media and Marketing Coordinator to determine the type of content that will be published, how it will be captured, and they receive one-on-one training during the editing process. This hands-on approach gives students a comprehensive understanding of content creation, from the initial conceptualization phase to the final publication. The program’s focus on Instagram has been particularly successful, resulting in a 17% increase in followers, with the content produced by the Influencers garnering an average of 190,000 views.
Beyond social media, the Student Influencers have played significant roles in district-wide events. For example, at the annual State of the District event, Nimitz High School Student Influencer Mya Young shared her personal journey as a student-athlete, highlighting how the program has enriched her experience. “Since being in this program, I’ve been able to give the public an inside look into my life as a student-athlete and share my success story at State of the District. Being a Student Influencer is being a leader not only on your campus, but for the district as well,” said Young. “I would encourage other students to apply for this program because you never know what can happen. If you don’t think you’re a leader, this program will definitely shape you to be a leader.”
Irving High School Student Influencer MaKenna Hearne also contributed to the State of the District event, serving as an emcee for the first time—a role that challenged her to step out of her comfort zone. Reflecting on her experience, Hearne shared, “My AVID teacher recommended I apply for this program because it’d not only look good on my resume, but it’s also great experience and an opportunity to learn more about myself and the district. I’m in the business/marketing program at school, so this is also another opportunity for me to get experience in marketing and social media.”
Through the Student Influencer program, Irving ISD aims to cultivate a network of young leaders who will continue to contribute to their community long after they graduate. The program is designed to develop the next generation of Marketing and Communications professionals by showing students the power of their influence—not just on social media, but in how they choose to use their voices to tell their stories and represent the district. As Hernandez noted, “Our students are our ‘why,’ and their stories are the heart of what we do.”
Through the Student Influencer program, Irving ISD hopes to create a network of district Influencers who will one day return home to continue paying it forward to the next generation of students.
This innovative program develops the next generation of multi-faceted Marketing and Communications professionals, showing students the power of their “influence”, and how it can be used to positively impact their school, their community, and our greater Irving ISD community. As the program demonstrates, influence expands far beyond simply what the audience sees on social media. It is how they choose to use their voice to share not only their story, but ultimately the District’s, as they are our “why”.
