Inspiring Civic Engagement at Pacific Ridge

Inspiring Civic Engagement at Pacific Ridge 
 

In the recent National Association of Independent School’s (NAIS) podcast episode “Practicing Civic Engagement with Spencer Burrows, Pacific Ridge School (CA)”, Equity and Civic Engagement Coordinator Spencer Burrows offers an inside look at how Pacific Ridge equips students to move from civic awareness to civic action.

Burrows explained that his role was created three years ago as the school prepared for the 2024 election and sought to expand opportunities for students to engage with the civic process in meaningful ways.

“The role really came about as we were looking towards the upcoming election,” he shared. “Our school had a desire for more intentional programming around the election itself, but also civics more generally.”

From sixth through twelfth grade, Pacific Ridge students experience civics through a scaffolded progression. Middle and high schoolers start by exploring local government at the city and county level, eventually moving on to state and federal government. Students then deepen that understanding through leadership opportunities, advocacy projects, and direct engagement with local officials. Juniors and seniors even help teach civic modules to younger students, practicing communication and mentorship along the way.

For Burrows, the key to making civics meaningful is keeping it rooted in the local community.

“The reason why you need to focus on local politics is that it's tangible to your community, it's more accessible. These are individuals who want to work with you. You're going to have an actual impact. And I think keeping that focus front and center, not all the way on national politics and everything we're seeing on social media and the news, that served us really well.”

Now, that local focus gives students the chance to see their impact firsthand—attending city council meetings, partnering with local organizations, interning with elected officials, or participating in mock trials at the San Diego courts. These experiences help students understand how civic systems work and how their voices can shape outcomes.

Equity is also central to Pacific Ridge’s approach. By ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has access to these opportunities, the program aims to expand participation and foster a culture of inclusion and representation.

Through the Civic Leadership Academy and other initiatives, Pacific Ridge continues to prepare students not just for college, but for citizenship. As Burrows notes in the podcast, the goal is to embed civics across the curriculum—so that engagement isn’t an occasional project, but a mindset students carry with them long after graduation. 

Civic Leadership Academy students advocated for education issues in Sacramento with our lawmakers last winter, and this past summer, they held a variety of civic internships, including with a member of Congress, Carlsbad City Council members, an Encinitas City Council member, and a federal judge.

In today’s world, where civic dialogue can often feel polarized, Pacific Ridge offers a hopeful model: one where curiosity, collaboration, and compassion form the foundation for leadership and lasting change. 

For more information about the Civic Engagement Academy, visit the PRS Academies webpage. To learn more about internships through Pacific Ridge, visit the NExT Internships page, and to learn more about civic internships, contact Mr. Burrows.

To listen to the NAIS Member Voices podcast, visit:
Apple
Spotify