Support services essential in combatting negative impacts of social media on our students

Miss. Ochoa, a MUSD alumni, expressed gratitude for her peers during their graduation ceremony at  MUSD Middle College High School where building a Culture of We is tantamount to establishing a sense of community. Miss. Ochoa said that because of the welcoming environment she felt that she belonged and could be as successful as she was.  Learners like Miss. Ochoa become the greatest version of themselves when they are supported by people who see their potential and act in a way that builds them up. Social media use amongst 10-24 year olds tends to do the opposite, creating situations for teens to see themselves as not good enough in all aspects of life. 

According to the 2024 Center for Disease Control, 40% of teens in the USA have expressed sadness, depression, or loneliness. The US Surgeon General states that while social media effects on our children and youth are not yet fully understood, there is data that shows 40% of girls ages 13-17 say it makes them feel worse about their self-image.  The MayoClinic found that social media impacts can be both beneficial and harmful, the key at home is parent/caregiver involvement. This video from McClean Hospital describes how parents and caregivers can provide parameters for teens on using social media apps such as limiting posts to those that are not selfies, talking about what they see on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Discord and others, and limiting use before bed time. Social media use may be a driver in the increase of negative student behaviors and depression that we see in our schools. 

At school a percentage of our learners express anxiety, difficulty in developing relationships, and a need for support.  In our 2024 spring climate and culture survey, 74% of our upper elementary students indicated that they felt a sense of belonging at school, while only 57.1% of our middle and high school students felt a sense of connection to school.  Our mental health professionals had 982 individual counseling sessions with elementary students and 1,118 with secondary students. The professionals provided our students with much needed support so that they could be successful in school. Similarly, our health clerks provide services for students every day that provide them with the physical well-being they need for success. Burnett Principal Asrat shared this anecdote about Ms. Gunn, “Last year, my health clerk (Ms. Gunn) became a safe space for a student who needed to connect and feel seen at school. Knowing she could go visit the health clerk to get reassurance helped get this student to school every day.” Our counselors, mental health providers, and health clerks all provide opportunities for our learners to develop healthy tools that increase their skills for communication, conflict resolution, and better peer relationships. 

Measure Q will provide funding to assure these services are maintained, without that we will return to pre-COVID staffing levels. To learn more about the proposed MUSD 2024 parcel tax, please visit the Measure Q link on our MUSD website.

In community,

Cheryl Jordan
​Superintendent

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