Fostering Shared Leadership
The practice of Fostering Shared Leadership empowers students to assist with the development of school board policy. The school board was not satisfied with the district’s cell phone policy. Several teachers recommended to the students that they request to have some say in the policy. An administrator encouraged the student council to present their ideas to the board as they were open to student recommendations. The student council president organized a meeting for students to attend who would like to assist with developing a cell phone policy that would address separating IPODs and cameras from the cell phone issue. The students met before school in the mornings and with the assistance of two teachers worked on the language for the policy to eliminate cell phone use during the school day and on activities. The student council president and other student representatives presented the student-driven policy. The policy met the board’s expectation and was unanimously approved. The Student Council President announced the board’s decision then read the policy over the loud speaker. The students placed several poster sized versions of the policy around the school so it is clearly visible.