For the third year in a row, the Fremont Public School Foundation proudly sponsored a group of forty Fremont Public Schools students in grades 4–6 to attend the Region II Elementary Principals Student Leadership Conference at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Nearly 200 students from across the Omaha Metro area participated in the day-long event, making it one of the region’s most engaging leadership experiences for young learners.
The conference kicked off with a keynote address from Skip Bailey, Director of Flight Training, Chief Ground Instructor, and Flight Team Head Coach for UNO’s Aviation Institute. Bailey shared stories of his own leadership journey in the military—highlighting not only the responsibilities of leading, but also the importance of being a strong follower. He emphasized that leadership often begins with showing respect, observing the actions of those in charge, and modeling positive behavior for others.
Students then rotated through four of twelve interactive mini-sessions, each designed to strengthen leadership skills in unique and creative ways. Session topics included Mindsets Matter: Growing as Leaders, Tools Good Leaders Use, Building Resiliency: Life of a Military Child, Leadership and Team Building, Leadership Lab: Powered by Code, Unleash Your Inner Leader, Roller Coaster Engineering: Leading Through Design, Sniffing Out Strong Leadership, Leading with Creativity: “Inside the Box” Thinking, “Bee” Awesome: Discover Your Leadership Style, Communication in Leadership and Teamwork, and Life Is a Kick: Martial Arts and Leadership.
FPS sponsor and chaperone Courtney Casper reflected on the value of the experience for students. “Students were able to listen to different leaders from a multitude of different backgrounds who could connect how the students could be leaders in their classrooms and other areas of life,” she shared. “Two of the overall themes that stood out were growth mindset and resilience, as students are trying new things and figuring out how to keep going, no matter the situation.”
Casper also noted that students explored what it means to stand up in tough situations. “If I remember correctly, one group talked about if you see someone stealing in a store, be a leader and let someone know,” she said. Beyond leadership concepts, attendees practiced real-world skills such as meeting new people, collaborating with unfamiliar peers, and introducing themselves confidently.
Thanks to the Fremont Public School Foundation’s continued support, participating students returned to their classrooms inspired and equipped with new tools, perspectives, and confidence—ready to lead in their schools, communities, and beyond.