StM News

At St. Martin’s Episcopal School, leadership isn’t just talked about… It’s lived. On Senior Leadership Day, our Upper School seniors took this tradition to heart, stepping into the shoes of faculty and administrators for a full day of authentic leadership, service, and learning.

Now in its fourth decade, Senior Leadership Day invites the Class of 2026 to experience firsthand the responsibilities, joys, and challenges of school leadership. What began as “Senior Teacher Day” in the 1970s, an inspired idea from longtime English teacher June Wells, has grown into a hallmark tradition that deepens students’ appreciation for educators and strengthens their own confidence as young leaders.

Senior Noah Dunn ’26, who served in the role of marketing and communications, reflected on the day:

Today was Senior Leadership Day, and the seniors were filling in for many different jobs across campus. Our class took over the school, with some serving as teachers and others as administrators. In the weeks leading up to Senior Leadership Day, students of the senior class are each paired with their own member of the faculty and must game-plan events for the day to see what it is like to have a leadership role. 

My role today was to take over for Mrs. Weaver, the Director of Marketing and Communications, attend meetings, and put together some interesting posts for the StM Social Media. I spent the day exploring the campus and capturing moments of my classmates teaching and working hard in their new jobs. One thing I quickly realized is that this day is not what I originally thought. Spending most of the school day with the teachers, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of what I was getting into with Senior Leadership Day, but as my classmates and I began our days, we discovered just how much thought, preparation, and leadership truly go into making our school run each day. I feel like I’ve learned a lot more about what goes on behind the scenes to keep the school such a great place and second home for many. 

From the earliest morning meetings to hands-on leadership tasks across campus, seniors inhabited real roles that support life at StM. They led lessons, facilitated discussions, attended administrative meetings, and assisted in roles across divisions. For many, the day was both eye-opening and inspiring. It serves as a chance to celebrate the skills they’ve developed during their years as Saints while gaining new insight into service and leadership.

This tradition continues to reflect St. Martin’s commitment to preparing students not just for college, but for meaningful lives of purpose, thoughtful responsibility, and collaborative leadership. Through this immersive experience, seniors leave the campus not only with a deeper appreciation for the adults who have guided them but also with the confidence that they, too, are ready to lead wherever life calls them next.

Senior Leadership Day serves as a memorable culmination of years of learning on campus, blending academic excellence, compassion, service, and a spirit of joyful engagement. It is a tradition that reminds our community why leadership matters and why service is central to the StM journey.

View photos and videos of Senior Leadership Day 2026