Peer Leadership Program Helps Girls Builds Confidence While Representing Student Body

When a group of students at Bromley Brook boarding school for girls grew frustrated with other students being disrespectful and talking through staff announcements during daily focus meetings, they decided to take action. The group of students, who belong to the school's Peer Leadership Program, made an announcement about the behavior at a focus meeting, talked to the problem students one-one-one and offered positive incentives for those students to sit through focus meetings without causing any distractions.

The result? Focus meetings without interruption - benefitting all students at Bromley Brook.

The girls who intervened as part of the Peer Leadership Program were nominated by staff and their peers to represent the interests of the student body. By doing things such as making sure all students get the most out of daily focus meetings, they are doing just that.

"The program was created out of students' desire to begin to effect change in their own environment," said Mary Jo DeGrandi, MS, coordinator of Special Therapeutic Programs at Bromley Brook and staff facilitator of the program. "It was also developed as an opportunity for students to have a voice in their school."

Becoming Part of the Peer Leadership Program

Each semester, six to 10 girls participate in Bromley Brook's Peer Leadership Program. The girls who participate in the program are nominated based on such factors as the consistency of their positive behavior, their therapeutic progress and their academic standing. Girls may also nominate peers who they feel are ready to become part of the program.

"Across the board, girls need to be putting forth effort if they want to be nominated," DeGrandi explained.

Once they are selected, the girls sign a contract indicating that they are willing to commit the time and energy required to be part of the program and that they will maintain behavior appropriate for a leadership position. Participation in the program is always voluntary and dependent upon continued adherence to the standards established in the contract - if a girl breaks the contract, she will be asked to step down from the program.

Students who are selected for the program typically remain peer leaders for the duration of their stay at Bromley Brook, which can be anywhere from 12 to 18 months. Despite this consistency, the group changes every semester either because girls have transitioned out of Bromley Brook, have been demoted or opted out in order to focus on academics or other school-related activities.

How the Program Works

One the group is chosen for the semester, the girls meet weekly to stay organized. The group acts much like the student councils at many schools, except there are no formal positions (such as president or treasurer) within the program. The girls set an agenda for each meeting, talk through issues of concern to them and the student body, and work to problem solve those issues.

The group also comes up with proposals that are presented to the senior leadership of the school. Through this process, the members of the leadership program have been instrumental in the following accomplishments:

  • The creation of a school fitness room.
  • Adding more equipment to the school's recreation room, which involved the girls requesting and working within a budget, polling their peers for ideas, and ordering ping-pong and foosball tables.
  • Organizing and throwing a school-wide carnival, complete with arts and crafts booths, a bounce-house and a pie-throwing event.
  • Running a student speaker panel during student weekend.
  • Holding peer-led support groups for older students to provide assistance to newer students.
  • Participating in community service activities, such as volunteering at a local soup kitchen.
  • Holding a "Ms. Bromley Brook" talent show.
  • Creating monthly events that focus on a social issue, such as World Hunger Day.
What the group proposes each semester depends on the interests of the girls in the program, DeGrandi said.

"Overall, it's a great way for students to learn how to develop their voice and leadership skills," she said. "The girls also learn to operate within a system where you have to work with different management groups."

In addition to creating their own proposals, the Peer Leadership Program also works with the school's senior leadership, acting as a liaison between the students and adult staff.

If the school is going to institute a new program or change a policy or practice, staff members will bring these issues to the Peer Leadership Program group to discuss them and get feedback from the student body. For example, the girls have helped staff revamp and create consistency in the school's system of discipline and consequences. They are currently working to help the staff establish a greater variety of exercise and fitness options, such as establishing a school dance team.

"The staff wants them to get really involved," DeGrandi said. "We really value having student input."

A Chance to Build Confidence

Becoming part of Bromley Brook's Peer Leadership Program instills pride and self-confidence in girls who may not have experienced these emotions before, especially if they had never been seen as or thought of themselves as leaders. It allows girls to take on a sense of responsibility and accountability, and to feel ownership for their school.

"It helps the girls see that their voices are really heard and valued," DeGrandi said. "They have the power to make some changes in their environment and not just complain. It's an opportunity for girls to see their own power, to step up and shine."