2017 Annual Conference

Beth Perryman
Rachel Read

Learn how to build student leaders that embrace a growth mindset.  Traditional student leadership programs award high achievers with special jobs that are often easily accomplished.  iChangers embraces the idea that students of all abilities, backgrounds, and temperaments are capable of meaningful service and contributing to the school community.   The iChangers program teaches leadership skills through 5 distinct tracts capitalizing on students’ passions and interests.  Sample student leadership lessons and implementation resources will be shared.

This presentation will outline the creation of our school student leadership program called iChangers.  We have developed a programs leverages students’ interests and passions to grow student leaders who apply the principles of social emotional awareness to serve others and lead fulfilling and successful lives.  Attendees will learn how to create and implement a school-wide student leadership program that moves to connect the ideas of the SEL from words to actions.  Influencing a student’s physical and mental habits will always be more effective through deeds than through words. 

The importance of this program is realized in the fact that a student’s success or failure isn’t only determined by cognitive skills, as once thought; Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills, or those most related to character, including grit, optimism and self-awareness, are other important contributors to student success. In addition, the 7 Mindset research shows that the most reliable predictor of an individual’s success is the way a person thinks.  The most accomplished people believe everything is possible; they identify and follow their passions; they understand that collaboration is essential; accountability is key; they are grateful for the lessons of failed attempts and the opportunities for challenge; they understand that creating value for others is the greatest legacy, and lastly successful people live in the moment with positive and purposeful actions. 

Traditionally, student leadership programs are filled with compliant high achieving students that are given responsibilities that can be accomplished with little or no training.  iChangers embraces the idea that students of all academic abilities, cultural backgrounds, and temperaments are capable and desiring of relevant and meaningful responsibilities that will contribute to the school and community.   Instead of rewarding responsible students with special jobs, the iChangers program will intentionally teach leadership skills in large group and small group formats to all students through leadership service. 

Attendees will learn the following:

• How to design a school leadership program effective for all students
• How to change school culture through servant leadership
• Logistics and best practices of running the program (including an implementation guide)
• How servant leadership and SEL education data from our program can be used to support your counselling goals and your school’s improvement plan/CCRPI. 

Attendees will be given a link to use on their device to interact with the presentation, as well as freebies for audience participation! Attendees will also be given a link to download the presentation, resources (including implementation guides for elementary and middle school, student application templates, classroom presentation materials, sample student materials, student leadership lessons, student recognition ideas and template).