On Monday, May 11, 2026, 210 middle school students from 13 different schools gathered at the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford for the 8th Annual Leadership Summit. The Summit is part of an ongoing partnership between the University of New England Education Department and the Biddeford School Department.
This year’s theme, Connecting Leaders, Inspiring Change, focused on helping students build connections with peers from other schools and discover ways to inspire positive change in their schools and communities. Throughout the day, students participated in leadership activities and discussions designed to encourage teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.
“The Leadership Summit continues to be one of the most inspiring days of the year because it gives students the opportunity to realize that their voices truly matter,” said Jennifer Vitiello, Director of the Annual Leadership Summit. “When students from different schools come together to share ideas, challenges, and solutions, they begin to see the impact they can have not only in their own schools, but in the broader community as well.”
Jeremy Ray, Superintendent of Biddeford, Saco, and Dayton School Departments, attends the Summit each year and listens to students share the challenges they face in their schools. “What continues to impress me most about this Summit is the honesty and heart our students bring to these conversations,” said Ray. “They are not only identifying the challenges they see in their schools, but they are also stepping forward with ideas, compassion, and a genuine desire to make things better for one another. That gives me tremendous hope for the future.”
This year, a common theme emerged among all 13 schools: concerns about unkind words and a lack of respect among students and teachers. As part of the Summit activities, each school created a goal to help address these challenges. Some schools plan to have student leaders meet with administrators to discuss concerns and work together to find solutions. Other schools are focusing on ways students can become “upstanders” by speaking up when they hear unkind words or witness disrespectful behavior.
Despite these challenges, the positive energy, thoughtful discussions, and engagement shown by the students gave chaperones, facilitators, and presenters a great deal of hope for the future.
