By Rylie Hall
Student Council members attended a leadership conference at Orlando's on February 10th, 2026. This conference allowed students to participate in various workshops that contributed leadership roles and teamwork amongst their randomized groups. Guest speakers Dr. Bernadette Boerckel and Dr. Craig Skaluba also attended to inform students on the many roles within leadership and how it has impacted their lives.
Students discussed as a whole room on ways to improve the efforts of students joining extracurriculars. (Why is it important to "show up" for your community? Why do some students steer away from extracurriculars? How can we avoid a lack of involvement?)
Rosie Zalonis, Ava Eyer, Emma McCormick, Mikayla Ganoe and Kyran Lisembee had to work together to attempt to draw Mr. Davis. (Rules: Eyes must be closed, one finger must be on the paper at all times, NO talking, and only one color per person is allowed!)
Students engaged in a lesson from Mrs. Walters about how using inductive reasoning and observing your actions identifies your patterns of behavior. ("If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is probably a duck." Make sure your behavior aligns with your values, especially as a leader.)
Students watched videos on adaptive leadership, learning about techniques and solutions to be a better version of themselves as a leader.
Students observed Dr. Boerckel, and listened to her interactive presentation on leadership. Students were able to identify the deeper definition and meaning of leadership and what it looks like within their community.
Students learned about the DISC leadership model (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness). This model is used to help understand your personal tendencies among leadership, to assist yourself in adapting to others and their style. Students discussed in their groups, and wrote in their journal what they believe their DISC personality type is.