Old Rochester students present with administration at superintendents conference

MASHPEE — A pair of Old Rochester Regional High School students presented with school administrators at a state superintendents conference.

Molly Wronski, a rising junior, and Jaymison Gunschel, a 2024 graduate, spoke with Superintendent Michael S. Nelson, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Shari Fedorowicz and Guidance Director Lauren Millette at the 30th annual Paul J. Andrews Executive Institute. The event was hosted by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents in Mashpee in July.

The group’s presentation was titled “Building a Culture of Influencers - Embracing Student Leadership and Voice as Catalysts of Change” and “highlighted the district’s commitment to fostering student leadership and its positive impact on school culture,” according to a press release.

Wronski and Gunschel “shared their experiences and the significant role student leadership has played in their education,” the release said.

Wronski also participated in a panel event during which students from across the state discussed the impact in their schools of Project 351, an non-profit organization of youth-led, school-based service.

“Our students have worked tirelessly to create an environment where student voices are heard and valued,” Nelson said in the press release. “Presenting at the M.A.S.S. conference was a fantastic opportunity to share our successes and inspire other districts to embrace student leadership as a driving force for positive change.”

The presentation also covered the Celtics Playbook Initiative, in which student leaders “receive in-depth training and coaching from Celtics and Project 351 staff, facilitate interactive workshops and serve as champions of change, modeling inclusion and sharing tools to intervene in challenging social situations,” the press release said.

“Empowering students to become leaders and influencers as school change agents and having strong administrative support is key to building the best learning environments,” Millette said in the press release. “Project 351 and the Boston Celtics Playbook Initiative have served as catalysts for developing our young leaders into upstanders and bridge builders.”