Our two presidents

photo: Gordon’s Leadership Council Co-Presidents prepare to lead a procession alongside two Kindergarteners on the first day of school, 2024

How do you decide to run for president? How do you win?

What are the official duties? And what are the other, unofficial responsibilities that you take on when you are elected president of your school?

These were some of the questions that Gordon’s Leadership Council Co-Presidents discussed when they spoke to the New York Times earlier this month.

Gordon’s student presidents spoke to reporter Taayoo Murray for a piece on student elections that ran in the print-only New York Times for Kids section of today’s Times (above and below)

Their tips for winning an election included speechwriting pointers, thoughts on consensus building, and this reflection on leadership: 

“Passionate leaders listen with the intent of understanding what their peers are saying.”

Thank to the Times for giving our student leaders this opportunity to use their voices in a national forum. 
 

Gordon has been finding dozens of opportunities for learning in this contentious election season.

This week, we revealed the winner of the “I voted” sticker competition that drew in Middle School and Early Childhood.

Other lessons from this fall include:

The mysteries of the electoral college

Disagreeing with grace

Exploring debate in seventh and third grades

Democracy and activism taught alongside math and reading

Talking to young people about the election