Middle School // Valuing Leadership
The world has issues that need to be solved; and the students we teach today have the answers we’ve been seeking. It’ll take more than content knowledge to successfully lead our world through climate change, racial inequities, and global conflicts. Students are going to need impeccable leadership skills. Skills such as collaborating with others, communicating effectively, and showing empathy lives and breathes through our Habits of Character. At DAA, these leadership skills are explicitly taught and practiced.
Through our daily crew model we utilize this time to practice leadership skills in a safe environment. In 6th grade, we decided that we wanted a Class President to help to advocate for the wants and needs of our class. I thought, as the instructor, it would be critical to create a multi-day, complex election process that challenged students and forced them to use and reflect on the Habits of Character. First, in our primary election, all students who felt they were ready to run had the opportunity to speak in front of the class. From here, the remaining students chose the top 3 candidates. The next day, the finalists chose campaign managers and students were assigned campaign teams. Over the course of two days, they worked together to get to know their candidates, design campaign posters and slogans and helped their candidate write and practice their speech.
Finally, it was Election Day. The room transformed, students and staff members from the lower elementary school came to support our classes efforts. The final 3 exuded confidence when giving their campaign speeches. The roars of applause illustrated the camaraderie of our crew. After two tie votes, we elected our first Class President. Even more important than winning were the reflections. Students who had lost in the primary elections rose to the call of leadership by helping their candidates communicate their message effectively. Finalists delegated tasks, mediated conflicts, and spoke words of encouragement. It goes to show that school is more of a place of tests and assessments, but a unique community of diverse people who come together to grow together. This election process as bonded us as a crew. Most of all, it has given us a chance to solidify ourselves as the leaders the world needs.
