Servant Leadership Through An Elementary Lens - Julie Hannan & Brett McDaniel

The CharacterStrong Podcast

Today our guests are 5th Grade Teacher Julie Hannan, & Administrator Brett McDaniel from the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District.

We talk to Julie & Brett about the ways that they have worked to develop servant leaders in the 5th grade classes at their elementary school. Julie shares how from the beginning of the leadership program they have invited all of the 5th grade students to participate, and how this has changed the way that students think about what leadership is. As an administrator, Brett shares about the positive ways that this program has had an impact across all areas in the school.

Julie Hannan is a Washington State native who will begin her 19th year of teaching this fall. In this time, she has had the pleasure of teaching and learning alongside students from many countries, cultures, and backgrounds. Most of her experience has been in middle school, but Julie transitioned to upper elementary in 2018 and is loving it! Partnering with her administration, colleagues, and community to facilitate an environment of servant leadership and growing student leaders is her favorite part of the job! Julie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law & Justice, a Master's Degree in Teaching, and has been National Board Certified since 2008. She mentors new teachers, facilitates National Board Candidate cohorts, and has served in many leadership and coaching capacities. In her spare time you will find Julie with her husband Dave and their 2 dogs, Kyle and Sage. Brett McDaniel is entering his 24 year in education as the Vice Principal at Sumner Middle School in Sumner Wa. Brett has had a unique opportunity to have taught character education at all levels of education serving 17 years at the high school, 3 years at the Junior High and 3 years at the elementary. Throughout his career he has partnered to develop and hone in on building servant leadership programs within his schools to develop the whole child.