Comstock Park — When Ryleigh O’Connor attended her first Kent ISD Student Leadership Community meeting four years ago, she was the only freshman in the room.
“It was really weird because my entire middle school (was) COVID time,” said Ryleigh, who graduated from Comstock Park High School in May. “So I came in, and I felt like I’m not even in high school. I still felt like I was in the middle school mindset.
“Then I walked (into the meeting) and all of them were talking about colleges and SATs and stuff, and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m far away from that.'”
The fact that the students were all upperclassmen in the countywide student-voice organization did not dissuade Ryleigh from becoming an influential part of the group. In fact, she became a trendsetter, with other districts following suit by nominating freshmen to serve as well.
“I think (organizers) were only thinking of upperclassmen, and then they saw that I was in there,” she said. “They realized that the younger grades have very different experiences, which made them decide to include a broader range of participants.”
Started in 2022, the Student Leadership Community brings together 45 students who represent a cross-section of Kent County students in public, charter and homeschool programs.
Along with being the first Kent County student to serve four years in the community, Ryleigh is also the last student from the inaugural group.
Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Gorman said Ryleigh required little prompting to assume leadership roles from the start. She was consistently among the first to engage in initiatives aimed at improving both academic and social-emotional outcomes for her peers as well as, on several occasions, conveying the student experience to education and community leaders.
“I am so thankful for the four dedicated years she has spent being a member of the Student Leadership Community,” Gorman said. “She will be greatly missed, but I know she will continue to do great work in the future in whatever path she chooses.”
In the Room Where It Happens
Ryleigh said she did not expect meetings or in-depth discussions when she first learned about the SLC. Instead, she assumed, “We would come together, play a little game and then leave.”
At times it was a bit overwhelming, she said.
“I would go on these different panels and everything, and I would have no idea what to say, and I’d be like ‘I just got to high school. I don’t really know about high school,’” Ryleigh said. “I feel like it got less overwhelming the more I was in it.”
She went from being at a loss for words to serving as the master of ceremonies for the annual student-led Listen. Learn. Lead. State of the Student event, a gathering organized by the SLC that showcases student voices to further the conversation around challenges districts face in educating students.
Ryleigh said her experience and increased involvement have helped her become more confident in speaking up; she has gained a deeper understanding of her school and felt better equipped to share insights with the group and bring back ideas to Comstock Park.
Ryleigh witnessed the SLC grow from hosting just a few events to leading major initiatives such as Listen. Learn. Lead. She also participated in a “Your Dream Is Our Dream” podcast, attended a mental health summit and collaborated with WOOD TV’s Maranda and several area superintendents.
“It was really cool to see that we made an impact on so many people that we were able to go to these different kinds of events and start new ones,” she said.
Ryleigh said the SLC has become increasingly student-led, with members now helping plan events, shape discussions and make key decisions.
Students have far more input than when she was a freshman, she said, giving them a stronger voice in the group’s direction.
An Active Leader
A leader in Comstock Park as well, Ryleigh served on student council, Student Volunteers, National Honor Society and Unified Volleyball.
An accomplished athlete, she participated in sideline and competitive cheer, volleyball and soccer and, through her involvement, worked closely with athletic trainers, whose guidance and support inspired her to pursue a career in the field.
This summer, Ryleigh is attending the University of Michigan’s Bridge Scholars Plus program before beginning classes this fall in UM’s School of Kinesiology, where she will study human movement. She plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in applied exercise science followed by a master’s degree in athletic training, with the goal of becoming a collegiate or professional athletic trainer.
As she prepares for her next chapter, Ryleigh said she is grateful for the opportunities the SLC provided her to grow as a leader and build connections with students across the region. She hopes the group continues to make a positive impact throughout Kent ISD while expanding its reach beyond those borders.
“I hope they’re doing a lot more events and sharing with a lot more people, maybe higher than the superintendent level. If they could talk to state leaders or somebody at a higher level, we could change things for all of Michigan, not just Kent County,” she said.
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