We would like to say thank you to Heather Hayes at Three Oaks Middle School in the Dyer County School System for sharing about the great work of their school’s long-established student leadership council!

The focus and purpose of Three Oaks Middle’s leadership council is centered around their school and community, with the focus being through acts of service, and the purpose of students being able to “showcase their leadership skills through acts of service”. Even though this is considered a club at school, students do have to go through an application process and be selected as part of the council. Ms. Hayes wanted to emphasize that “the leadership council is always looking for new opportunities to help out the school and community”, and that “these volunteer opportunities help students prepare for their future as leaders in their schools, places of employment, and community”.

Three Oaks’ leadership council has activities throughout the school year, with some being during school hours, and some after school. Some of those activities include leading tours of the school for upcoming middle school students, greeting and guiding parents to classrooms during parent night and activities, and preparing snacks and beverages to deliver to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.

“The heart of the leadership club is serving and giving back to [their] community.”

Ms. Hayes also detailed the council’s latest project to raise money for charity, which “was to design and implement an escape room for students and their families to participate in for a fun family activity”. How neat! And let’s not overlook how these student leadership council members not only give input for things to be included in their school’s PBIS Rewards Store, but they also assist in organizing and stocking the store and in gathering purchased items for students.

With as much as these students do for their school through this leadership council, Ms. Hayes says that “the heart of the leadership club is serving and giving back to [their] community.” One way this heart for their community shined through recently was when the students went to their local assisted living facility and took turns reading to residents during Read Across America Week. But it does not stop there; this leadership council also lent a helping hand at the Salvation Army during Thanksgiving last year, assisting with cooking and preparing a meal and serving it to the community. Another way they gave back to their community was during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when these leadership students prepared and delivered thank-you baskets to their local first responders and healthcare workers. The Three Oaks’ leadership council has also helped facilitate a blood drive through their local American Red Cross, and even organized a supply drive for their local animal shelter to help take care of their furry friends for Christmas!

Lastly, Ms. Hayes said that implementing their RTI²-B framework and working with Tennessee TSC has helped them not only “focus on improving [their] school and building better relationships within [their] school and with [their] community, but also helps them “facilitate the work of [their] leadership club and set their expectations”.

Way to go, Three Oaks Middle, and your student leadership council! We are all very proud of the work you are doing for both your school and your community.