Revamped Forum Encourages Student Leaders

Sasha Wai

The Middle School Student Forum is returning a er a revamp. Heading the redesign of the student leadership forum is Kara Smith and Kathryn Koshkin, both Middle School history teachers and advisors. Interested students have been assigned to one of the forum’s ve boards: academics, arts, athletics, lifestyle, and service/ sustainability.

One of the main goals of the new forum is to have it be student driven. Students are helping reimagine it and assuming leadership roles, faculty advisors said.

Smith said the reconstituted forum will give students the space to seek out leadership opportunities.

“Student-led leadership is driving the revamp of the forum,” Koshkin said. “ e brilliance of it is that this can be an opportunity for the students to really come up with their own plans.”

Another change is eliminating the election process by which student forum members were previously selected. By getting rid of the election factor, Koshkin said she hopes to make the concept of leadership more accessible to all middle schoolers. e faculty advisors said they’re excited to see how the revamped forum develops over the next year.

Koshkin and Smith are also aiming for students, especially h- and sixth-graders who are still early in their Middle School journey, to transition from the group aspect to individuality.

“I think we as teachers hope they develop their individual tastes and preferences, and that can be applied to how they serve and help this community,” said Koshkin.

Smith said her goal is to help middle schoolers learn what leadership is and how to lead.

“Ultimately our goal is to give them opportunities and guidance to learn how to nd and use their voice,” Smith said.