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Leader. Helper. Friend.Ja’Davion is the kind of kindergartener who makes his classroom better just by being in it.

In Mrs. Robinson’s class, Ja’Davion leads by example. When asked what a leader is, he said it means “being in charge of yourself,” and he practices that every day by using kind words, welcoming others, and doing what’s right even when no one is watching. For Ja’Davion, making others feel like they belong starts with kindness.

“Being a good friend means being nice to them.”

Ja’Davion is also a proud learner. When asked what he loves at schools, he didn’t hesitate: Homework and outdoor recess. He says he’s learned the most in reading, and he brings that same focus and effort to everything he does.

Mrs. Robinson says Ja’Davion often asks, “How can I help?” and then takes real ownership. When given a task, he follows through and helps others work together to get it done. She describes him as a “serious learner,” and notes that other students look up to him and want to be around him.

When asked what it means to be a Senator, Ja’Davion didn’t hesitate: “Being a leader.”

Athlete. Scholar. Leader.

Miriam is a fifth grader who is already chasing big goals, on the track and in the classroom.

Miriam loves running for the challenge and the fun of getting better each time she steps on the track. She competes in the 100, 200, and 400, and she’s learning that growth comes from stepping into challenges. At an indoor meet, Miriam surprised herself in the 400, running 1:11 and cutting six seconds off her personal record. For her, a PR is more than a number. It feels like “moving on to the next level.”

That same mindset shows up at school. Miriam is an honor roll student who stays on track by using reminders to balance homework and practice. Her principal calls her “a Dover High track star in the making” and says she works hard to maintain stellar grades while being “a leader throughout the building,” as well as a good friend and mentor to younger students. Miriam describes leadership as “doing the right thing when nobody's looking,” and she works to model that for others every day.

“I tell them the good things and the hard things too, because I know they can get through them.”

When asked what it means to be a Senator, Miriam says, “it’s about being a leader and setting the example for others.”

Advocate. Motivator. Leader.

Riley is a ninth grader at Dover High School who uses her voice to represent others and lead by example across the Capital School District. 

Riley is involved in cheer, serves as a track manager, and represents freshmen through the Student Advisory Committee. She stepped into that role because, as she said, “Not everybody has that voice to do so,” and she wants to speak up for students who may not feel ready yet. Her principal shared that Riley has been “a very positive voice at DHS” and that she “epitomizes the traits of a Senator through leadership and advocacy,” providing feedback on curriculum and board policy and advocating for other students by sharing her experience.

Riley believes Capital schools should be places where students feel supported, respected, and heard. She wants adults to remember that student perspective matters: “Even though I’m a child, I still have a voice.”

Riley is proud of staying on the honor roll and keeps her focus on growth. She has a goal of becoming a Labor and Delivery Nurse and is building her foundation through the CTE Early Childhood pathway. Her message to other students captures her mindset best:

“It’s okay to fail, just as long as you keep going.”