Developing young leaders in Sisters

Developing leaders in young students is a theme at both Sisters Elementary School and Sisters Middle School. Both schools have leadership programs designed for the older students within their buildings.

It's Becky Aylor's fifth year teaching leadership at Sisters Middle School for 15 7th- and 8th-graders every trimester.

"The students don't have to be a straight-A student," said Aylor. "It's more about their character. In fact, sometimes the kids that are most successful in leadership don't fit into the academic classroom well."

The students participate in purposeful activities during the day and after school.

"At the beginning of every year I ask the students 'how do we make sure that all students (at SMS) feel and know that we care about them?'" Aylor said.

Leadership students at Sisters Middle School work on the yearbook, assemblies like the Veteran's Assembly, Celebrate You, Pennies for Patients, concessions, and special events like the beginning-of-the-year carnival and year-end GIG (middle school dance). In addition to all of those items, students create the video announcements for the school.

"We are the glitter glue that holds it all together," Aylor says.

The video announcements can be difficult for some students, but Aylor tries to make everyone feel comfortable. The first thing she says she does is give all of the students ridiculous names.

"We talk about labels," she said. "Did me giving them a ridiculous nickname change who they were as a person? No matter how you act on film it doesn't change how you are as a person."

It's important that the students put their best self forward during their announcements - there are 350 students watching.

"These students are held accountable for their behavior not only during leadership hour," Aylor said. "They are also representatives in other classes, in town, at the grocery store and the skate park."

Students that participate in leadership have seen positive changes in their personal behavior.

One student came into the class very shy, and left telling Aylor how much she enjoyed the class "because I am proud of who I've become and I can speak loud and proud."

Sisters Elementary School began their fourth-grade leadership program this year with school counselor Wendy Von Seggern, music teacher Shelly Hicks, and PE teacher Ashleigh Thomas as their advisors.

Ten fourth-grade students per trimester serve as the Leadership Team. Students at SES lead activities, assist on the playground with younger students, tour new families and help greet students at the door in the mornings.

"Students really look forward to their participation in the program," said fourth-grade teacher Katie Parsons. "I think it helps them have more buy-in here at school ... they then become excited about being stewards of their school."

Students in both programs also learn what student leaders do, including ways to be a good leader. Middle school participants create their own personal mission statement and read books about strategies to be a healthy teen.

"The new leadership programs really fostered a sense of inclusiveness at our school," said Clay Warburton, another fourth-grade teacher at SES. "It's not all the same kids; not a popularity contest. I think it's helped with school unity."

Both programs provide similar service-learning opportunities to their participants They allow students to serve as role-models and showcase positive behaviors to other students. Most importantly Aylor hopes students leave her class more aware of who they are and who they want to be.

"I want them to be aware of their own expectations and path of life," she said. "I hope to give them tools to achieve their goals and the ability to find the resources they need to accomplish their goals."