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Running an effective student leadership program takes structure and vision from all levels of a school. When we create opportunities for students to lead, we are building competencies that they will take with them for the rest of their lives.

I currently co-teach a middle school student leadership elective each semester. I am passionate about teaching my students to lead by example, find solutions to problems, and make their school a place where all students know they belong. Here are four ideas to create a strong student leadership program or other student leadership opportunities. 

Ensure complete support of the administration

The success of a student leadership group is based on the administration being willing to support with time, resources, and mentorship. At our school, the leadership classroom is near the principal’s office, and we made sure that students have an open-door protocol to gain final approval on all projects.

The principal is often in the class giving feedback to students before and after the project and suggesting new ideas. A positive relationship can help teachers as they navigate permissions or gather funds for what the students need. This also applies to the custodial and office staffs, as we need them for setup and cleanup help or supplies.

Let students try ideas and let them fail

Honest feedback and constructive criticism is my main job when working with students in their planning process. Teachers need to critically determine if it’s necessary to veto projects or steer students’ ideas into something more manageable.

For example, one group of students wanted to have a culture day, but they were going to pick countries that had no connection to any of our students. This was one of the times I had to guide them in their thinking, and eventually tell them the idea would not work and we would need to consider it in a different way at another time.

Not all completed projects may be successful, and this is where I struggle the most. I love seeing my students succeed, and watching them fail in front of their peers is hard. For instance, students created a tag-type game that was quite complex in its organization; they ignored most suggestions for improvement, so I let the event happen and the game lasted less than 30 minutes before the principal called it off. But that is what these in-school opportunities are for. Crafting failures into a learning experience for them and their peers is part of the journey of learning to be a leader. 

But there have been many successful student-created personal and small group projects, such as recess sports tournaments, STEM challenges, fundraisers, and grade-wide game days.

Another option is having teacher- or school-chosen projects that split up the year into bigger endeavors and require all students to be involved, versus the student-led projects that are smaller in scale. Larger schoolwide events create a sense of community when students see their individual roles coming together to benefit the bigger mission of the event. Major schoolwide projects at my school include Terry Fox Day, a Food Donation Drive, and Field Day.

Use a centralized system for organizing student work

A strong, centralized leadership organization system benefits students because it keeps everyone on the same page and helps students learn how to organize their files and project planning. I created a using Google Docs for important links (from teacher emails and class size lists to event photo folders) and a table where students fill out their project information and link files related to the project (planning documents, posters, videos, etc.). This way, all student work is in one place for me to see and access. Students learn quickly to make sure their sharing settings are open, and it’s easy for the groups to function if a member is away. 

I also created a project checklist, above, that helps students remember what they need to complete for each project, from posters and announcements to the principal’s permission. This way, students know what I expect and can work independently on their projects without constant reminders on what the deliverables for their projects are. 

Create a group routine and culture

Producing leaders means creating a culture of teamwork and cultivating a growth mindset. Students work with learners from different genders and grades on every project. (I teach grades seven and eight in the same class.) Each class begins with a mini-lesson on various topics, such as how to write a formal email (students need to know how to ask teachers for help or supervision, or connect with organizations outside the school), design with Canva (poster and presentation creation), or what it means to be a leader using videos and past student examples. (This is to use with my students when showing the importance of collective impact.)

I recommend a post-event reflection ritual—I ask students two questions: What went well, and what could we do better or improve on next time? The students from the organizing group get to speak first. Then the students who weren’t in the planning group get to give their outsider point of view on the event. I also chime in or build on the students’ thoughts. All students need to be involved in this reflection, as their peers’ projects are a way for them to improve and think about how it could apply to their current or future projects.

These four ideas make my ability to teach and organize student leadership more powerful and beneficial for all those involved, and I hope they help you shape your program into a culture of student leadership.