Sowers and Dwyer Middle School leaders come together for a first-of-its-kind leadership training
Last week, the District Office Board Room looked a little different than usual. Instead of the usual meetings, the room filled with laughter, teamwork, and nonstop energy as more than 100 student leaders from Sowers and Dwyer Middle Schools gathered for an interactive leadership training day. The event marked a District first: the first time student leaders from both middle schools have come together in person to learn, plan, and lead side-by-side.
The session was led by Scott Backovich of ENVOLVE Schools, an organization known for action-packed, high-engagement workshops that help student leaders build inclusive campus communities and plan meaningful activities for their peers. From the opening moments, students were on their feet, collaborating in small groups and trying out new ideas together. Throughout the day, they gained practical leadership skills, received access to hundreds of ready-to-use community-building activities, and were given tools to bring back to their campuses to empower fellow students year-round.
Bringing the two schools into one room made the day truly special. Students who might otherwise have met only as rivals on the field instead met as teammates, trading ideas, learning from each other's campus traditions, and discovering how much they have in common. Seeing that cross-campus collaboration happen in real time was incredible, and the connections formed that day will carry forward as these leaders continue to support one another throughout the year. The day was as much about building relationships as it was about gaining skills, and students left with both a plan and a renewed sense of purpose.
“It's been so fun making new friends from Sowers, and I had a great time learning about leadership,” said Sawyer, a seventh-grade student at Dwyer Middle School. “This year, I want to make sure everyone feels comfortable participating, and that we can build trust with our classmates so they're more willing to join in.”
District Office staff were invited to stop by throughout the day, and many took the opportunity to see our middle school leaders in action. It was inspiring to watch students take ownership of their roles, encourage one another, and think creatively about how to make their schools more welcoming and connected.
“It's been great getting to be on a team with students from Dwyer and learn from each other,” said Kate, an eighth-grade student and ASB president at Sowers Middle School. “I'm really excited to bring ‘giving weeks’ and activities to Sowers, where we do things for our student body and staff without expecting anything in return.”
This year's District theme, Grounded and Growing, came to life in the Board Room. Our student leaders are grounded in values like kindness, inclusion, and a commitment to one another that make their campuses strong, and they are growing into confident leaders ready to shape the culture of their schools. When students are given the tools and trust to lead, they help build campus communities where everyone feels included and inspired. The ideas sparked at this inaugural event will soon come to life at Sowers and Dwyer, and we can't wait to see the impact these leaders make this year.
