New Hampshire students hone leadership skills

Nineteen elementary school and middle school student leaders from Concord and Manchester were selected to participate recently in the 16th annual Northeast Delta Dental Youth Leadership Summit.  

The event was hosted and sponsored by Tom Raffio, the Harvard-educated president and CEO of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award-winning company for the past 30 years, and author of six books on leadership, health, and mindfulness.

“I look forward to this summit every year,” said Raffio, President & CEO, Northeast Delta Dental. “Leadership development is supported and encouraged at Northeast Delta Dental so I’m honored to help inspire the future leaders of New Hampshire.”

John Jay Bonstingl and Bonstingl Leadership Development Worldwide of Columbia, Maryland, conducted the two-day program at Northeast Delta Dental’s conference center in Concord. “Every young person must learn how to lead,” he said. “First, to lead themselves, then to lead others. We need a generation of good, heartful, effective leaders to emerge from our schools.”

Student delegates learned how to identify their own leadership strengths, how to make public presentations, how to work effectively in teams, and how to present themselves as effective leaders, including sitting and standing postures, tone of voice and eye contact.  

Bonstingl’s national student leadership development program is based on his bestselling book Schools of Quality and the principles and practices of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. 

The Baldrige Award was created by an act of Congress to improve how organizations and their people perform, in order to raise the quality of American products and services. Northeast Delta Dental, the most recent recipient of the award, is the only company in the Granite State to have been honored with this award.

In two days, student participants and their teacher mentors created team names, jingles, mottos and logos, and conducted a professional-level analysis of their school’s strengths and possibilities for improvement. 

The student leaders learned firsthand about the important role of wellness and gratitude from Ellen Raffio, Northeast Delta Dental’s wellness coordinator. And they engaged in a lively Q&A with Tom Raffio, focusing on what it takes to be an effective leader today.

Each team created an original no-cost project to “make their great school even better.” They presented their work to a panel of experts at the conclusion of the two days. 

The panel included Tom Raffio, Ellen Raffio, and Kimberly Yarlott, assistant superintendent for the Concord School District; Fred Bramante, past chair of the state board of education; local philanthropist Frank Tansey; Meryl Levin, executive director of Mill Falls Montessori Chartered Public School; and Brian Hettrick, a prominent national consultant in Baldrige principles and practices. 

Joining the on-site panel were two international experts via Zoom — Jeffrey Mustafa Smith, founder and managing director of Copperstone Education based in Dubai and Sazana Pradhan, an educational change agent representing the Peace Education Network—Nepal (PENN) who joined the panel from Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital. 

Assistant superintendent of schools Kimberly Yarlott said, “When students are heard, they are more engaged; they feel valued, honored, and accepted. The Northeast Delta Dental Youth Leadership Summit is an amazing opportunity for students to feel invested in their school by imagining changes and planning for the future.  This program challenges young students, encourages cooperation, builds speaking skills and confidence, and celebrates community.”

“We are so proud to be part of the Youth Leadership Summit, knowing that we are making a difference in so many young lives, and in our community, every single year,” said Tansey. 

Fred Bramante agreed. “Delta Dental and Tom Raffio’s ongoing generosity has enabled this leadership building for young New Hampshire students every year for 16 years! Amazing! These students will never forget this experience!” 

Jeffrey Mustafa Smith, the Dubai-based entrepreneur, believes that “Bonstingl’s student leadership training empowers students by fostering global awareness and by creating meaningful opportunities for learning beyond the classroom.” 

“Through real-world problem solving grounded in Baldrige principles and Jay Bonstingl’s Personal Practices of Quality,” Baldrige expert Brian Hettrick said, “students experience how excellence, continuous learning, and love in action can create lasting impact in their schools and communities.”

“Teaching children kindness, wellness, appreciation, and gratitude builds a strong foundation for success and positive influence,” according to Ellen Raffio, who kicked off the program with a workshop on wellness. “Instilling these values helps young leaders develop into compassionate, empathetic individuals, resilient problem-solvers, effective communicators, and responsible citizens eager to make a positive difference. Focusing on wellness and gratitude develops the skills, mindset, and resilience necessary to thrive, creating a lasting impact on their communities.”

“Our Mill Falls Montessori students are so engaged throughout the Youth Leadership Summit!” says Meryl Levin, “They are creative and focused, working collaboratively with respect, grace, and unity of purpose. This year, Mill Falls student delegates named their team The Peace Leaders. Their motto is “Peace for all — It’s free for all!” The team is working on a project to bring more joy and laughter to the school community.

Finley, a 6th-year student at Mill Falls Montessori Chartered Public School said, “I was really happy that I was chosen this year to represent Mill Falls.” She added, “It was exciting to be in Concord and learn how to be a better leader. My favorite part? I enjoyed presenting our work and seeing what the other teams did. I think our project is going to be successful because it will bring a lot of joy to our school community.”

Jameson, a 5th-year Mill Falls student, said, “When I was picked, I felt very excited knowing that people saw me as a good leader. My favorite part of the summit was working on all the pieces of our presentation. I think this was a great opportunity for me and my teammates to learn how to be better leaders. My biggest takeaway? I feel more confident as a leader in my school, and in my classroom.” 

Michele Vance, principal of participating Beaver Meadow School, says, “Our students have grown more self-confident to publicly speak in front of people they do not know, and they are excited to work together on their goals to make Beaver Meadow School even better.” 

She added, “Our students want everybody to hear their team jingle: ‘Leaders are ready, steady, and true, guiding our ship with our leadership crew, voices of courage, us as a team making our school the best it can be!’” 

Anthony Blinn, principal of Abbot-Downing School, said, “The Northeast Delta Dental Youth Leadership Summit introduces our younger students to what it means to be a leader, allowing students to learn a balance of skills while also learning from fellow students from other schools.” 

Abbot-Downing teacher-mentor Jill Ledee agreed. “In the Youth Leadership Summit our talented learners build confidence and dedicate themselves towards a service project that brings great new ideas for their school!”

Mr. Bonstingl has taken his student leadership program to schools across the country and overseas, including Nepal and India.

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