The Family and Community Engagement Department relaunched the Middle School Student Ambassador Program last school year after its hiatus during COVID-19. We are thrilled about the direction this leadership program is taking, particularly with its 8-week curriculum through Lead4Change, culminating with an impactful community service project.
Earlier this month, our middle school student ambassadors led tours in their schools for the employees in the RPS Administration Building. This gave staff the opportunity to get out of the office and into the hallways of some of our schools to see what day-to-day life is like for our middle school students.
The Student Ambassador Program aims to cultivate leadership skills within our middle school students. The program contributes to creating a positive school climate and culture that promotes student voice and a sense of belonging, helping to build student confidence and leadership abilities.
"It's always nice to get out and see the buildings, but even in day-to-day work, we just pass by students or say hi as they are going about their day. We don't often have time to have a conversation with them, asking what they're interested in or how they like their school. It was really nice to connect with students and see the positive effects the Student Ambassador Program has on their confidence. It was an excellent experience with some excellent students," said Matt Johnson, Director of IT/IS Security, and Brett Smith, System Engineer.
This year, we had 61 attendees and 24 student ambassadors lead tours for Flinn, Eisenhower, Lincoln, Montessori, and Kennedy Middle School. Giving the students a chance to put their leadership skills on display was a great success, and the engagement between students and adults was fantastic. It was an excellent experience for all involved!
About the author: Ginny Barnett is Community Engagement Support Professional for the Family and Community Engagement Department.