Queen Creek Unified students gathered for leadership conference

Students from across the Queen Creek Unified School District recently gathered at Queen Creek High School for the annual Leading Out Loud Conference.

QCUSD’s the LOL program gives students the chance to use their voices, build confidence and influence change on their campuses.

“LOL is huge,” Tara Bernier, dean of students at QCHS, stated in a district press release. “When we started this conference, we were so small, and it has just blossomed and grown and gotten bigger and better every year. It is unique to our district, and it gives students opportunities that no other district offers.”

Breakout sessions throughout the day focused on real-world leadership skills. Students explored participatory budgeting with Robin Bayles, director of educational technology and virtual learning, learned about the power of teamwork in All In with Erika Donovan, and discovered new ways to spark school spirit, the release continued.

“The biggest impact it has is empowering our students to be true leaders on their campus and giving them the tools and support to do incredible things,” Bayles stated in the release. “One of the great things about LOL is that students who would not necessarily take on that leadership role, but definitely have that potential, are sought out and recommended by their teachers.”

For many students, that recognition was a powerful motivator.

“It was exciting, and it made me feel like I could really step up and do this,” Mikayla, a QCHS sophomore, stated in the release.

She added that leading out loud means “really putting myself out there to help people. When you do it so everybody can see, I feel like it makes a bigger impact.”

Another QCHS student, senior Lily B., stated she felt honored to be nominated.

“For my teacher to think of me two years later to be involved in this was so heartwarming,” she stated.

She especially enjoyed a group activity that challenged students to collaborate on budget decisions.

 “It was really cool to see everyone’s ideas and be able to express your own thoughts and be heard,” Lily stated.

Nicole Konrath, QCUSD’s K-12 social studies academic coach, explained how experiences like LOL go beyond the classroom.

“It gives students a chance to participate in the democratic process,” she stated. “Sometimes it is students who are shy or quiet in class, and at LOL you see them shine.”

The day also included community service projects, a keynote address and closing sessions that encouraged students to plan their next steps.

For students and staff, the conference reinforced the district’s mission of developing well-rounded learners who are prepared to lead in their schools and beyond.

“We know we have strong academics, but we go beyond that,” Bayles stated. “We build the whole student and give them opportunities to grow as individuals and be leaders, not only here, but in their own communities.”