Student Leadership

Overview

From the start, Spence students begin to take pride in growing their knowledge and skills as they contribute in so many ways to the joyful community that is their school.

Spence nurtures strong leadership within each division by fostering an environment that helps students take initiative, explore ways to lead, and find their voice as they build meaningful connections in their school community and beyond.

“There’s so much space for our students to create the school that they’re going to day to day.”

—ELIZABETH CAUSEY, HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL

Lower School
A range of daily routines and opportunities scaffold student growth and pathways to the many ways they can be leaders in the community. The morning class meetings are intentional times where everyone has a job.
Grade 3 students guide their Kindergarten Little Sisters, teaching them how an original coding game works or partnering with them in a dance performance.
Grade 4 students act as reporters as they lead each Community Gathering, a dedicated time for Lower School to come together as one and share all that they’ve learned as a community.
Middle School
The Middle School schedule is intentional in dedicating time during the school day for clubs and organizations so students develop their teamwork across grades and hone their leadership skills.
The Musical Theatre Club, entirely student-driven, is a collaborative group with a common goal of performing for the Spence community. Annually, they present a student-directed, student-choreographed, and student-acted performance.
Members of Clara’s Committee enjoy learning about how Spence works and dedicate time to maintaining classrooms and supporting peers, staff, and teachers.
Upper School

Upper School leadership opportunities abound. GETS, or Girls Empowered Through STEM, is a student-led club that partners Upper School student-scholars with Middle School students interested in learning more about STEM. Committed students can rise to the highest level of visual arts, environmental studies, history, and science by pursuing an advanced curriculum of their own design through multiple fellowship programs. Myriad internships are offered throughout the Upper School journey, matching students with opportunities to create hands-on experiences and find their voice beyond the classroom.

More information can be found on the Upper School Fellowships and Internships page.

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“I see our role as both preparing students for leadership and encouraging them to question what leadership is supposed to look like.”

—ERIC ZAHLER, DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

Middle & Upper School

22 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10128

Lower School

56 East 93rd Street
New York, NY 10128

Athletic & Educational Facility

412 East 90th Street
New York, NY 10128

A K-12 independent school in New York City, The Spence School prepares a diverse community of girls and young women for the demands of academic excellence and responsible citizenship.

212-289-5940

© 2024 Spence School

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