Aug 20 2025
Classroom

Let Students Take the Lead

Empower K–12 instruction through student voice and partnerships.

At Blackstone-Millville Regional School District’s Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School, our vision is clear and ambitious. Through effective collaboration and reflection, all students develop and apply critical thinking skills to strengthen comprehension in all content areas.

To bring that vision to life, we asked some powerful questions: What happens when students become more than just participants in their learning? What if they become leaders?

Why Student Voice Matters

Amplifying student voice doesn’t just improve participation. It makes instruction more effective and meaningful. True learning thrives on relevance, inclusion and authenticity. When students feel heard and valued, they engage more deeply — not just with the content but with each other.

WATCH NOW: Empower students to shape their learning with technology.

At Hartnett, students are not just learners, they are partners. By sharing their perspectives, giving feedback and supporting their peers, students strengthen the entire learning community.

What Student Leadership Looks Like

Student leadership isn’t about grand titles or accolades. It’s about consistent, meaningful contributions that shape the classroom culture. At Hartnett, our student leaders have:

  • Designed and led academic challenges
  • Modeled peer feedback during instruction
  • Served on student panels to advise staff
  • Helped build inclusive norms for class discussions
  • Spotted when peers were left out and offered real solutions

This isn’t performative leadership, it’s the real thing. Our students are helping shape what instruction looks like from the inside.

Click the banner below and stay up to date on ed tech trends when you subscribe.

 

Our Six-Step Model for Student Instructional Leadership

To create a sustainable and impactful student instructional leadership team, we developed a six-step process:

  1. Set the vision. Define what student leadership means in your school. Build a shared understanding focused on voice, ownership and collaboration.
  2. Recruit diverse leaders. Go beyond the “usual picks.” Seek students from various backgrounds who are thoughtful, curious and invested in improving school for everyone.
  3. Train students and set expectations. Equip students with the tools to lead by training them to give feedback, collaborate and operate professionally.
  4. Create real opportunities. Invite students to co-lead initiatives such as peer mentoring, classroom surveys or staff presentations. Their contributions need to feel real, not symbolic.
  5. Scaffold and support learning. Provide structure such as sentence starters, rehearsal time and adult coaching. Students lead best when they feel prepared.
  6. Celebrate and reflect on success. Showcase student contributions publicly. Recognition builds confidence and shows that their work matters.

You don’t need a formal program to begin. Start by asking questions. In what ways are students already shaping our classrooms? Where could we implement their leadership next? What would it look like to treat students as co-creators, not just recipients?

Even small steps can shift school culture.

Let Your K–12 Students Lead

When students take the lead, everyone benefits. Instruction becomes more responsive. Classrooms become more inclusive. Students gain academic skills as well as soft skills such as agency, empathy and leadership.

If you’re ready to elevate student voice in your school, start by trusting your students. They are ready. Let them lead.

UP NEXT: Workforce development and CTE programs open doors for K–12 students.

LightFieldStudios/Getty Images
Close

New AI Research From CDW

See how IT leaders are tackling AI opportunities and challenges.