Leadership in Action

At Fay, leadership isn't a finish line; it's a journey that begins the moment students walk through the doors. Starting in Primary School, children are encouraged to lead in meaningful, age-appropriate ways, by making thoughtful choices, practicing kindness and good manners, and modeling positive behavior for their younger peers. As students grow, so do their opportunities to lead. Whether they are presenting confidently from behind a podium, greeting an adult with a firm handshake, or choosing to do the right thing in a challenging moment, leadership at Fay is nurtured at every step.

 

This growth is at the center of Fay's Vox Inventum program, which helps students develop their public speaking and presentation skills, build self-advocacy, and practice the values of effort, civility, and kindness. "To me, Vox Inventum, or 'Find your voice,' is about advocacy for self and others—in other words, leadership!" says Head of School Susanna Waters. "That leadership happens through official appointments, like team captain or student council representative, and in equally essential community roles, such as Morning Meeting leader, classroom helper, and lunch waiter. However, advocacy in its purest form emerges in the unscripted moments. At Fay, we are raising children with character who, we hope, will champion the underdog and intervene as upstanders when social dynamics become challenging. Fay students learn to identify and articulate problems worth solving and causes worth supporting, and they develop the ability to inspire positive energy and momentum behind their solutions and endorsements. These leadership skills, practiced and promoted from their earliest years on campus through ninth grade, emphasize the School's core values of Earnest Effort and Honorable Conduct, and help them to be effective leaders in their communities."

 

 

 

From the first month of school, second graders serve as leaders of the Primary School community, presenting skits to help younger students understand Fay's Core Values, walking younger students to their classrooms, and leading within their mixed-grade community groups, where they support younger students. "As the oldest ones, they take the lead in community events," says Head of Primary School Katie Knuppel. "They model doing the right thing, and they practice leadership in presenting to the community."

As the leaders of their respective divisions, sixth and ninth graders kick off the school year with a leadership-focused retreat at Camp Merrowvista in New Hampshire's Ossipee Mountains. This fall, their trips overlapped for a powerful day of connection and mentorship. Ninth graders guided younger students through a Leadership Compass exercise, encouraging each sixth grader to reflect on their strengths and consider the kinds of leadership roles that might be a natural fit. Sixth graders also took time to reflect on the leadership qualities they hope to model within the Lower School this year, choosing inclusivity, empathy, open-mindedness, and perseverance. The sixth graders serve as the oldest athletes on the 5-6 athletic teams, make announcements as Morning Meeting leaders, lead community events like the dodgeball tournament and spring talent show, and this winter, they will mentor third graders through the Lower School's Big Moose, Little Moose program,  partnering to read stories, play games, and engage in wellness activities. Fourth and fifth graders will also participate, building a supportive, multigrade community where leadership and friendship go hand in hand. 

Affinity spaces like Students of Color, Q&A, and the monthly Upper and Lower School Students of Color Breakfasts are also places where students can build community by demonstrating leadership. "It’s gratifying to watch our Upper and Lower School students reach out to new students and pull them into these events," says Head of Lower School Kaitlyn Cronin. In Community Connections, an optional workshop group where Upper Schoolers engage in discussions about identity, community, and culture, students follow their passions to lead discussions and events. Director of Equity & Inclusion Jill Anthony has noticed more students stepping up to lead. "There are more students who want to go beyond planning the meeting. They want to have an extended morning meeting. They want to work on holiday celebrations, and they offered to help with Taste of Nations."

 

As students progress through the Upper School, they encounter a variety of traditional leadership opportunities, from serving as team captains and running for student council to taking on roles like color officer, positions that allow them to guide their peers, shape school life, and leave their mark on the community. This year, Susanna launched the Head's Council, a dynamic group of student leaders that includes the Student Council co-presidents, color team presidents, head boarding proctor, head day proctor, and head admission ambassador. The Council meets regularly with Susanna to share ideas and advance proposals that enhance student life and student events. Already, the impact is visible: the Council gained approval to pilot jeans on Spirit Dress days and launched a ninth grade Polaroid Project, encouraging students to capture and share the silly, sentimental, and meaningful goals they hope to achieve before graduation. In October, the Head's Council presented at the Fall Board of Trustees Meeting, discussing their leadership roles, and then they spoke with the trustees in small groups to share their perspectives on the Fay experience.

Not all students seek the spotlight; many prefer to have an impact behind the scenes, working on issues they are passionate about. Over the past 12 months, Director of Student Life Joe Buteau has introduced fall and spring leadership seasons, when students can express their interest in a variety of positions through a single application. Some positions require a speech, an interview,  and a student election, while other leadership candidates are selected by faculty. The single application allows the school to steer students toward opportunities they might not have envisioned for themselves. "The application helped us identify kids who maybe didn't see themselves in a certain role," says Joe, "But based on their application, they'd be a great proctor or color team representative, and we could encourage them to throw their hat in for consideration."  Ninth graders could apply to serve on the Legacy Council, collaborating with Alumni Director Willie Waters to build class unity and plan the ninth grade class gift. The Athletic Council partners with Director of Athletics Rob Feingold to enhance the athlete experience at Fay and will also meet with the St. Mark's Athletic Council to share ideas. Meanwhile, the Antler Council works with Service Learning Coordinator Christina Berthelsen to create meaningful ways for students to engage in community service. "Our student leaders have a platform to try new things and take risks," says Jill. "Kids are bringing ideas forward, and the adults in the community are saying, 'Yes, let's give it a try.'" This approach allows students to develop leadership in ways that are creative, purposeful, and uniquely their own.

The public speaking program also encourages Fay students to share their perspectives and experiences with authenticity and confidence. Sixth graders give their speeches about lessons they have learned about leadership or Fay's core values at Morning Meeting throughout the year, and ninth graders have the option to participate in the Fay Voices program, where they share a meaningful aspect of their identity with the Upper School community at Morning Meeting. The program has become so popular that more ninth graders signed up than there were spots available this year.

 

Service allows students to step up as active, thoughtful members of their community, identifying needs, solving problems, and planning meaningful ways to make a difference. This fall, ninth graders worked with Christina Berthelsen on a civic engagement project to consider their individual spheres of influence and think about what they want their legacy to be when they leave Fay. Their project ideas ran the gamut, including creating a buddy program between ninth grade and first grade students, launching a school newspaper, spearheading a Fay sports podcast, and organizing a student musical performance for the Southborough Senior Center. "Some of the students working on these projects are not kids who hold traditional leadership positions, but they are seeing themselves as leaders," says Christina. "It's been really exciting for me to see these ideas come to fruition, because transformational leadership and service leadership are so important."

In Primary and Lower School, service is woven into daily life at Fay. Second graders set the tables for the next lunch every day. Lower School students rotate through Community Crews: third graders serve as library helpers and manage trash patrol, fourth graders water classroom plants and sweep after lunch, fifth graders manage doors into the Dining Room Building and help take down and set up bulletin boards, and sixth graders lead Morning Meetings and assist with Primary lunch. As students take on these roles and responsibilities, they give back to their community while also gaining confidence, independence, and a deeper understanding of what it means to contribute and lead by example. "Leadership is not static," points out Lower School Dean Kara Mertz, "and it's not a title. It's a mentality, it's a mindset, it's a way of interacting, and it evolves as you evolve."