Northwest Activities Leadership Council

The Activities Leadership Council at Northwest High School meets after each early-out Wednesday and is comprised of 16 members; it is led by Activities Director, Mr. Duea. 

Mr. Duea created the council in January of 2022 to incorporate students’ voices in activity decisions. Mr. Duea stated, “When you are starting a new school, it’s new culture, it’s new traditions, it’s new everything and we wanted our students to have a say in that.” He did not take all the credit when discussing the inspiration behind the council. He explained, “Councils of this nature are not new to school districts. In fact, we modeled the idea after other schools in the CIML.” 

Sophomore representative Aniston Clayton described Mr. Duea and his position. She emphasized, “Duea is the advisor, he leads the conversation but it is also group led because we express our ideas he is just the person who really helps us get started on our ideas.”

The Activities Council was comprised of multiple members and leaders, Marina Mihura, the Activities Intern, helped create the council and complete many of the logistical tasks. She is credited for creating the application as well as collecting them and talking through the blueprints for the program. Kiana Carnes, a junior representative commented, “She did a great job of getting everyone excited and involved in it.”

Mihura discussed her position. She beamed, “I am just really excited that I was able to help kick it off and I am excited that it is here [at Northwest]”. Marina described her vision for the program both presently and in the future. Mihura described, “This council is a really good opportunity for students or people involved in activities, to really have a say and even an impact”.

 Aniston Clayton commented again on the status of the program. She stated, “This year, it was really [about] getting it started and talk[ing] about who we [are] as a group. So next year we will really start influencing the ideas we have and just actually doing the more hands-on stuff.”

The main foundations for the council are leadership, culture, traditions, and interaction with the lower levels. Mr. Duea wanted to take advantage of having many of the team or activity leaders in one room to have speakers teach them what leadership is and how to be a good one. Carnes reflected on their student roles and expressed, “[We should be] giving a good example for everyone involved and being good leaders.” 

As culture goes Aniston Clayton explained the council’s goal of unity. She stated, “We want everyone to feel like they are a part of Northwest not just part of one certain community we want it all to be one community.” Multiple members shared examples of the football and basketball teams going to watch the musical or a marching band concert. Marina shared the vision when she described, “Every high school has a big line between athletics and [the arts] but [Mr. Duea] really wants to see that come together.” 

Abby Elsbernd, a sophomore involved in band, choir, speech team, cross country, track, and the musical commented on the traditions. She stated, “Getting to be a part of putting a community together, and a new group is really exciting at Northwest. [I am waiting to see] where that takes us and the new opportunities we create.” She stated, “I think it is really interesting to have insight on both sides of the activities that go on at Northwest because you get to work on two opposite sides of the spectrum type of people and getting to know the different areas of activities, it is really interesting because sometimes they can differ a lot between the people, the environments, and attitudes but again there [are] always similarities you don’t expect to see.” 

Mr. Duea shared, “I think it is still, and not by design, but it’s weighed more [heavily] toward the athletic side. I would like to see a little more of a fine arts influence.”

One upcoming event the council is involved in will take place on May 24th at the Northwest Stadium. Mr. Duea explained, “They have [an] elementary field day that is going to be at the stadium and all the members of the council are going to be involved.” All north-side feeder elementary schools will participate, including Grant Ragan, Radiant, Shuler, Walnut Hills, and Waukee Elementary. 

Mr. Duea reflected, “I think for starting it from scratch, we didn’t accomplish everything maybe we would have hoped but I think for a first-year it was a really good start. And I think it is something we can really build on and have it be something that really plays an important role in the school.”

Marina agreed with the prosperity of this group and the potential it has especially for the students. She shared, “I think it is a really good opportunity for students to be invested in our activities department.” 

While the future for the program has not fully been decided, Mr. Duea is confident there will be opportunities for more students to join next year, there are at least four open spots due to graduating seniors and there is still a possibility of additional spots to be available. 

The original council is comprised of 16 students:

Kiana Carnes

Aniston Clayton

Ava Clayton

Macy Davis

Makenna Davis

Abby Elsbernd

Brady Grisham

Finley Habgood

Taylor Handfield 

Bailie Kroll

Parker Lambert 

Megan Lanz

Grant Macke

Mallory Metzger

Carter Van Horn

Kamryn Vogt