This post was contributed by Annette Jones, NCEA Assistant Director of Leadership Development.
As a principal, developing students’ leadership skills was one of my passions! At the beginning of the year, I would meet with the eighth grade students to discuss the importance of being “at the top” and their influence as role models for all students in the building. I reminded them that even preschool students looked up to them- both literally and figuratively!
As part of the leadership program, two eighth grade students would lead the school community in prayer, reflection, Pledge of Allegiance, students’ birthdays, and other announcements each morning. As a spiritual resource for various grade levels, I recommend the Children’s Daily Prayer offered by Liturgy Training Publication. The daily format is as follows: Opening, Psalm, Reading, Silent Reflection, and Closing Prayer. Following announcements, the student leaders would deliver helium-filled balloons to the students celebrating birthdays that day. Certainly, a birthday balloon delivered by the two eighth graders brightened their day! As a school community, we enjoyed the spiritual ritual each morning and developed students’ leadership skills at the same time.
