Encouraging Young Leaders

By Jillian Daley

Sometimes signs of change can, literally, be signs.

For example, all around North Marion Middle school last month were posters for a Spirit Week from February 14 to 18, featuring days for class colors, flannel, pajamas, and formal attire. The signs were a, well, sign of the new Leadership class, which kicked off in December. 

The class was designed to replace the typical elections-based student council with an application-based effort that focuses on including students of all backgrounds and age levels. 

What Students Are Saying

Students not only spread joy through initiatives like Spirit Week, they participate in service projects such as Toys for Tots  and reach out to other students who need support or a kind word. But there is also a deeper and more grounded aspect to the leadership class, in which students share their views and help shape school policy. 

Eighth-grader Kendra Baylie says she enjoys expressing her own views and serving as a force for change.

“It’s important for kids and teenagers to have a voice because kids and teachers don’t always agree on things,” Kendra says. “I like helping people feel comfortable in the school, and I wanted to see if I could change things. We have the power to change things. We’ve gone over buses, attendance, absences. We’re going to discuss the dress code soon.”

Her classmates also relish the opportunity to catalyze change, but the essential kindness of the class also touches their hearts.

“We spread kindness around the school in little ways to show that it’s OK to be different,” says seventh-grader Lila Shaffer, a Leadership class participant.

Seventh-grader Colby Jones says that he joined because thought it would be a fun experience, but it’s also been good for him to step into such a positive, open environment.

“When you’re in here … you’re just hearing the truth,” Colby says

How Leadership Came to Be

North Marion Middle School Principal David Sheldon calls the Leadership class an improvement over what has previously been called Student Council or Associated Student Body. 

“This class was established to help develop student leaders with the skills to lean in and listen to the experience of their peers — and translate that into actionable recommendations to the adults in the building with the desired outcome to be representation for all student voices,” Sheldon says.

Leadership Adviser Kara Handran is the one in charge of the class, but she says that she relies upon Middle school staff and parents to offer critical input to guide her. She can also glean ideas from a determined and engaged collection of 19 students. All of them had to apply, receiving parent approval, writing a short paragraph explaining their qualifications, and attaining two teacher recommendations. 

“The Leadership class was created as a way to bridge the needs and wants of our students to school staff and, eventually, the community,” Handran says. “Students in Leadership have loaded toys into trucks for the toy drive, created spirit weeks with prizes to support student morale, and investigated the student-parent handbook.”

Handran says that the class has been flexible with the needs of the Middle School and that she is hoping to build off of the early successes “to create a solid opportunity for students to get involved.”

Sheldon is thrilled about how it has all come together.

“It really comes down to having an authentic Leadership experience that represents all voices in an advocacy format with the desired outcome of a more welcoming, safe, and respectful school that embraces student voice,” he says.

To share a story on the North Marion School Board, email Communications Specialist Jillian Daley at jillian.daley@nmarion.k12.or.us.