By Vera Naputi and Monte Sims
Madison East High School
Sitting here at my desk, I can’t help but think back to the years when Monte Sims was an East High School student sitting in this same office. He always had a spark, but listening to him talk now about his role as a “Village Builder,” and seeing his office space, it’s clear that something has shifted. Village Builders are staff dedicated to nurturing students’ whole-child development, making schools feel like family and ensuring students have the holistic support needed to succeed.
This role at Henderson Elementary School is exactly what Monte wanted for himself as a student, someone interested in the whole-child who will go the distance for their growth. It’s deeper now. He has shared that in the world of education, relationships aren’t just a bonus — they are necessary.
Monte is developing his lens for leadership. He notices leaders who could be having the absolute worst day imaginable, yet he would never know. That’s the kind of leader he wants to be: someone who holds the energy of a room rather than slinging their own baggage around the hallways. He’s realizing what some forget: you can’t teach a kid who doesn’t respect you, and you can’t earn that respect if you don’t see them as human first.
Now, he’s the one holding circles, teaching kids how to interact and hold space for one another. He is looking back at his own time in public school and questioning everything, particularly how teachers showed up. As a village builder, he wants to use the rich resources right in front of him — the kids themselves. He’s staying curious, wondering what a student went through at 6:00 am before they even stepped through the school doors. He’s learning that while not every kid opens up easily, building that bond is the only currency that matters.
It is so life-giving to witness the development of an educator. Our schools are already better because he’s in them.
