Student Leadership

Becoming a student leader at Berkshire means stepping into a role of responsibility, service, and integrity. Students are encouraged to lead by example, support their peers, and contribute meaningfully to the life of the school. Leadership at Berkshire isn’t about titles—it’s about action, empathy, and making a positive impact on the community. Through these experiences, students grow in confidence, develop their voice, and learn what it means to lead with purpose.

Prefects

Prefects are selected each spring to serve as student leaders during their sixth-form year. Prefects act as mentors and role models, providing informal guidance and support to peers, particularly in dorm life or for day students. Their responsibilities include helping with daily routines like study hall, lights out, and dorm meetings, as well as being a consistent and approachable presence on campus. Prefects are expected to foster a positive community by staying attuned to student needs, building connections across grade levels, and offering support throughout the year.

Green & Gray Captains

Green and Gray Captains (8 total, 4 Green and 4 Gray) should embody the Berkshire spirit and have a genuine desire to lead their team in a positive way. G&G leaders will lead students in campus-wide activities, announcements, get the student body excited about sporting events, other campus activities, and carry on the tradition of Green vs. Gray, which began in 1907. Leaders should be committed, organized, work well in groups, and with adults around campus.

Hurricane Island Outward Bound Leadership Award

The Leadership Award at Berkshire School is awarded each year to two students (fourth form and fifth form students are eligible) who've demonstrated leadership potential and a desire to take a wilderness expedition course. The award covers full-tuition for the students to attend a Hurricane Island Outward Bound School (HIOBS) course in Maine for sailing, canoeing, and/or backpacking. Outward Bound courses challenge participants to learn new skills, work as a team, care for the environment and further develop leadership skills.

1907 Society

The 1907 Society is an enthusiastic group of students that organize fundraising activities such as phone-a-thons to ask alumni for their financial in support of the mission of Berkshire School, as well as to thank alumni who have given in the past. Working closely with Berkshire's Advancement Office, members participate in alumni events and act as liaison between the Alumni Office and the student body.

Student Government

Student government at Berkshire meets regularly to address issues impacting the school community. Each form is represented by a class president, while two All-School Presidents lead the group, collaborate with the Administration, and help organize and present at All-School meetings.

Student Activities Leaders

Student Activities Leaders work closely with the Director of Student Activities to schedule and organize the activities calendar. Students are involved in running weekly meetings at which weekend activities are planned and responsibilities are delegated to dorm representatives and activity coordinators. Student leaders should plan on spending most weekends on campus. In addition, leaders are expected to solicit feedback from students about activities and to communicate with all other student leaders through active participation in Student Government meetings.

Benson Common Proctors

Students work closely with the Student Life Office, student government, student activities and the Director of Berkshire’s Custodial Department to insure all events and daily activities held in Benson Commons and the Student Center are organized and supported by students, faculty and families of Berkshire School. Some of the Benson Commons Proctors responsibilities include: serving as Head Waiters for Community Dinner, being responsible for student-led initiatives focused on the improvement and maintenance of the facility and to act as the main student liaison between the school and the Post Office, Bookstore, Shawn’s Place, and Flik Dining Services.

Green Key Tour Guides

Green Key leaders work closely with our Admission Office. This is one of the highest ranking student leadership positions at Berkshire. The largest responsibility of a Green Key Leader is to help coordinate the daily prospective student tour schedule. Green Key Leaders also perform a variety of duties for the Admission Office, including helping around the office, attending off-campus admission events and giving tours to Placement Directors from others schools and Berkshire faculty candidates. Applicants must be current members of Green Key.

Peer Listeners

Peer Listeners is a group of student leaders on campus supported by the Counseling Office. Built on the premise that students will seek the support and guidance of their peers during difficult times, Peer Listeners are available to all students. Although not professional counselors, Peer Listeners are trained in active listening, problem solving, crisis response, and stress reduction. The mission of the group is to foster emotional wellbeing through confidential peer-to-peer interaction. Peer Listeners will also lead campus programming and initiatives to raise awareness about mental health and decrease stigma around seeking support.

Philanthropy

The Philanthropy and Community Service club looks for ways individuals and alumni can give back to society and to actively effect positive change in the Berkshire School community, Southern Berkshire County and the world. The student leaders of the Philanthropy Society work closely with the faculty advisor to lead philanthropic initiatives.