Attendees: Tanya, Ben, Avery, Austin, William, Advaith, Sophie, Miana, Felix, Jonty, Dedian
Culver City, CA — The International Children Education Association (ICEA) hosted its fifth Leadership Training session on July 1,2026 bringing together student leaders to prepare for ICEA’s upcoming Summer Camps.The training focused on classroom management, communication skills, teamwork, and teaching practice, giving participants the confidence and experience needed to become effective leaders.
Student leaders arrived eager to learn, collaborate, and grow. While the training was designed to prepare them for teaching at ICEA’s Summer Camps, it also encouraged participants to develop leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills that extend far beyond the classroom. ICEA believes that leadership is a lifelong journey, and this training inspired students to embrace the mindset of lifelong learners as they continue to grow both as leaders and as individuals.
The session began with Felix Guo introducing the fundamental principles of leadership. He reminded participants, “A leader is not someone who simply tells others what to do.” Instead, he emphasized that great leaders create a positive and supportive environment where every student feels welcomed, encouraged, and confident to learn. Rather than pressuring students to complete tasks, leaders should inspire them to grow, collaborate, and enjoy the learning process together.
Following the introduction to the fundamental principles of leadership, participants explored other important aspects of being an effective leader, including behaviors that should be avoided. Through discussion, the student leaders agreed that no student should ever feel excluded simply because they learn at a different pace. Every child deserves patience, encouragement, and the opportunity to succeed.
The session also featured a special workshop led by Tanya, an educator with more than 30 years of teaching experience. She shared practical classroom management strategies, emphasizing the importance of keeping students engaged, creating a positive learning environment, and supporting students’ emotional well-being. Her insights gave student leaders valuable tools and greater confidence as they prepare to work with younger students this summer.
To put these ideas into practice, participants took part in an interactive mock classroom activity. One group acted as disruptive students while the other practiced responding as teachers. The exercise was filled with laughter while giving student leaders valuable hands-on experience in classroom management, communication, and teamwork.
In the final part of the training, each student leader delivered a short practice lesson in preparation for teaching at the upcoming Summer Camps. Participants selected topics based on their own interests, including volleyball, golf, leadership, and other subjects they were passionate about.
As one of the participants, I, Ben Xin, discovered that these presentations were about much more than simply practicing how to teach. Rather than reading from a script, each student leader spoke with genuine enthusiasm and shared something they truly cared about. Their passion inspired me, and I realized that great teaching begins with a genuine love for what you do.
Inspired by that realization, I chose to base my presentation on the meaning of leadership. I shared that leaders are not dictators who simply give orders, but role models who guide others with empathy, integrity, and critical thinking. As I concluded my presentation, I left everyone with one message:
“Great leaders don’t just influence people’s opinions—they inspire people to think.”
The practice presentations provided valuable feedback while helping student leaders strengthen their public speaking, communication, and teaching skills before leading campers this summer.
The event concluded with dinner provided by ICEA, giving everyone an opportunity to relax, connect, and reflect on the day’s training. As the session came to an end, each student leader left with greater confidence, stronger leadership skills, and a renewed commitment to serving others. The lessons learned will not only guide them throughout ICEA’s upcoming Summer Camps but will also continue to shape them as lifelong learners and future leaders.
