When Kids Lead: An Adult's Guide to Inspiring, Empowering, and Growing Young Leaders

Kids are capable of doing fantastic things! It’s time for educators—teachers, administrators, parents, mentors, coaches—to think differently about how we prepare students and encourage them to grow as leaders. We can equip students with the tools and skills that will allow them to identify, take on, and solve real-world problems. Award-winning educators Adam Dovico and Todd Nesloney offer a helpful primer on the importance of student leadership and how to incorporate training for it into education every day. Packed with practical advice and helpful strategies, When Kids Lead is a vital addition to the shelves of K–12 educators, who will find not just a roadmap for training students as leaders but concrete examples of how to facilitate their growth and development in today’s school environment. Throughout, Adam and Todd serve as helpful guides, explaining the benefits of leadership training while covering neglected topics, like the importance of discussing—and celebrating—leadership in the classroom and knowing when it’s the right time to follow.
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“Leaders make mistakes and teach others how to avoid them. Leaders are people who show respect and deserve it. They help you become who you want to be, no matter how good you are at something. They don’t take ‘no’ or ‘I can’t.’ They take ‘I can’ and ‘I will.’”—Finn, age 10

“A true leader cares about the people around them and wants to see others succeed. They will have a passion for a cause bigger than themselves and focus on the well-being of the whole rather than the individual.”—Lexi, age 18

“A leader is someone who always encourages others to be the best they can be. They also always hold themselves to high standards, yet they remain understanding and accepting of others. A leader doesn’t always realize they are a leader.”—Macy, age 16