Printer Friendly Version - North Branford's K-2 Student Leadership Program Among CT's First

(l-r) Jerome Harrison Elementary School (JHS) Dean of Students, Beth Parker and Program Leader & Speech/Language Pathologist Colleen Stankewich (right) are pictured here with members of the JHS Student Leadership group, now in its first year at the K-2 North Branford school.Photo Courtesy Jerome Harrison Elementary School

North Branford's Jerome Harrison Elementary School (JHS) has developed a Student Leadership Program, now in it's first year, which represents one of the first of its kind in the state with students this young (K-2).

The program includes 26 students nominated by their teachers for either their leadership potential or their potential to benefit from leadership opportunities. The philosophy of this program is to give students an active voice in their school, input in decision making, provide community involvement opportunities, and infuse co-learning with adults, community members and K-12 students.

A major theme of this group's work continues to be the Look for the Good Project and sharing the notion of gratitude throughout school and community experiences. Under the direction of Mrs. Colleen Stankewich, the group has participated in planning our KIND assemblies, organizing and leading our Veteran's Day event, leading food and toiletries drives, and educating our school and community about gratitude.

To further inspire this exciting new program, Dave Maloney from CT Association of Schools (CAS) invited members of the JHS student leadership program to attend the CAS-sponsored student leadership conference at Sacred Heart University held this past Monday, January 9. As part of this experience, students worked with teachers, adults, parents, and other students across the state to share ideas, establish collaboration, and inspire leadership and decision making. Key themes and sessions that JHS students participated in were Productive Thinking, Communication, Decision Making, and Creative Problem Solving. All students came back inspired and eager to share their learning with their peers and school community.

JHS Principal Carter Welch, Ed.D., was very proud of the students' efforts, their confidence, and the way they represented the community of North Branford at the conference. He further highlighted that our youngest learners have so much leadership and creativity to offer, more than we often give them credit for; and that we should all be very excited about the future with developing leadership and creativity like this.