Willard Elementary launches student leadership council

CONCORD, Willard Elementary School has launched a Student Leadership Advisory Council for fifth graders, the Concord-Carlisle Regional School District announced.

The council includes 16 fifth-grade students, with four representatives from each classroom. Because of high interest, the group will rotate through at least two additional groups of 16 students during the year so more students can take part.

Members meet with Principal Stephanie Nephew and Assistant Principal Elizabeth Phillips every Friday during lunch and recess. The council's work is tied to Willard's community mission: "Care for Ourselves, Care for Others and Care for Our Community."

The group held its first meeting Oct. 16, discussing what makes a strong fifth-grade leader and writing a collaborative "recipe poem" describing leadership qualities such as listening, kindness, creative thinking and perseverance.

Students also began their first project, aimed at making recess more welcoming and inclusive. Ideas raised included sharing behavioral expectations with younger students, including students who are playing alone, adding more recess activities, increasing access to recess supplies, and keeping the outdoor space clean and free of litter. In future meetings, the council plans to expand on those ideas, set priorities and build an action plan.

"I am so excited to see how these students grow as individual leaders and a team throughout their time on the Student Leadership Advisory Council," Nephew said. "In just the first two meetings, these students have collaborated and discussed ways to create meaningful and positive changes in their school, and I cannot wait to support them as they implement these changes during the school year."

Nephew said she hopes to eventually connect teachers and administrators from the Willard Leadership Team with the council to keep school initiatives student-centered.

Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter said the program lets students "take on a role as an active member of their school community" while building teamwork, leadership and communication skills. "I am proud to see these students taking on this challenge, and grateful to have Principal Nephew and Assistant Principal Phillips leading them through the year," Hunter said.

Source: Concord-Carlisle Regional School District announcement, October 26, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.