How Aligning Student Voice, Values, Data, and Families Fuels Buy-In at Vega Collegiate Academy

Buy-in is one of the main concerns schools cite about implementing new programs and platforms—but for Vega Collegiate Academy, the issue is nonexistent.

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“Our teacher buy-in has been awesome,” said Megan Rafferty, Social Wellness (SoWell) Coordinator.

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If this sounds too good to be true, it’s actually not. 

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Along with a four-day school week, this Aurora, Colorado academy is unique in other ways, such as how well they get students, staff, and families on board with new initiatives. Not only is there trust in leadership’s decisions, but there’s a real alignment on Vega’s guiding principles and core values.

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These aren’t just words on a website; they’re genuine beliefs that connect the Vega community. To meet student needs schoolwide, Rafferty works with three school counselors (K-2, 3-5, and 6-8), a mental health counselor, and a school social worker. She also led Vega’s Sown To Grow implementation. 

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According to Rafferty, not only was the process “seamless and easy,” but the platform helped strengthen her focus on data and MTSS identification. Students complete the Tier 1, five-minute emotional check-ins each Thursday during morning meetings.

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“I think the things we've been doing on top of using Sown To Grow have also built a ton of buy-in for our families, our teachers, and our students.”

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For example, Sown To Grow insights are one of the agenda items incorporated into Cafecito, a monthly in-person event that unites school leaders and families for Vega updates, coffee, and conversation.

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Highlights from the platform are also shared in the weekly staff newsletter and can serve as a warm reminder to teachers of their ‘why’.

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Furthermore, Vega weaves Sown To Grow into their well-being framework by using the platform as another data point to identify students needing added support who may otherwise go under the radar. Beyond teacher referrals, survey details, or support calls, this extra, proactive step prevents students from slipping through the cracks.

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This proved to be helpful during Eating Disorder Awareness Week, when Vega modified their Sown To Grow check-in prompt to include the topic of showing kindness to your body. From there, the mental health counselor was able to review and sort those responses, and identify some students who might need a body image group, or who might need self-esteem support.

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“Our other data wouldn't flag that for us,” Rafferty explained, “so Sown To Grow’s been really great for that specifically.”

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In any school, success doesn’t stem from a single person or program. It develops through intentional alignment across all parties: teachers, staff, administrators, families, and especially students. When their voice is consistently heard, data is meaningfully used, and everyone is invited into the well-being conversation, buy-in becomes a natural byproduct, not a barrier. 

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By embedding student check-ins into the fabric of their culture and extending it beyond the classroom walls, Vega Collegiate Academy shows that when schools invest in connection, the results don’t just show up in data—they’re felt across the entire community.

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^{Interested in learning how Sown To Grow may fit with the student support goals in your own school or district? Click here or below to chat with a member of our team!}