Addressing educational change through systems design allows disciplined inquiry into the complex and emerging social structures of this dynamic system. One such method, narrative story, provides a way to examine the historical and current-lived practice of those engaged in the educational system. As a design conversation, it encourages the participation of all levels of the organization in creating a living narrative. This paper addresses how narrative story can be used to engage students within the system in developing that narrative, providing the construct within which to examine students' perspectives. Ten at risk students from 7th through 12th grade participated in the study, with the intention of making school a better place for all students. This paper examines these stories and their implications in the design process. It also examines narrative story as an appropriate social discourse in creating and sustaining educational systems that contribute to human betterment for all students.