Weston girl proves she's a leader with a big heart

By C. Ron Allen
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Whether she's settling a conflict between fellow students, helping them in class or leading a kids' club, teachers and peers know they can count on Shelby Grumer.

"Although she has many friends, she leads in making decisions that may not always be popular, but they are right," said Jocelyn May, Shelby's fourth-grade teacher at Gator Run Elementary. "Her infectious [attitude] is a joy for our entire class."

Shelby, who is a fifth-grader, first proved her mettle last year when she met a new student on campus. The girl appeared nervous, said Shelby, 10. And worse, a group of girls were saying unkind things about her.

"She was shy and she didn't have any friends ... so I asked her what were some of the things she likes," the Weston resident said. "We had a lot in common. She likes sports and I like sports, she dances and I dance."

Shelby wanted harmony between her newfound friend and her regular buddies.

"I told them, `I'm sorry you don't like her but I hope that we can still be friends,'" said Shelby, who was recently recognized for her tenacity. "They understood and they kept on being my friends."

Eventually, they became friends with the new girl.

Shelby's teachers praise her leadership ability, saying she is skilled and diplomatic in reaching consensus among her peers.

It was not surprising last year when Shelby was elected president of the K-Kids Club, the elementary version of the Kiwanis Club.

Under her leadership, club members washed cars and raised more than $400 for hurricane victims. They conducted various food drives for worthy causes. The youth service group also painted Popsicle sticks and made picture frames, which they donated to residents at a nursing home.

Shelby was pleased with her accomplishments, having fulfilled her campaign promises.

When "I ran, I made a speech about how I would ... listen and pay attention and that I would be involved and be at the meetings," said Shelby, who regularly volunteers when a student needs a partner for an activity.

While serving as president, Shelby found time to be a member of the Just Say No Club.

"We tell them not to hang out with kids who drink, throw rocks at cars or smoke," said Shelby, who recently was honored as a South Florida Sun-Sentinel Kid of Character for kindness. The program recognizes students who best exemplify the Broward County School District's character education traits.

Penny Grumer watched her daughter as she meticulously prepared for her K-Kids Club programs.

"She took it very seriously," said Grumer, who first learned of the club when her daughter introduced her to it. "She worked hard and was very proud of her involvement."

Having experienced running for office and serving as president, Shelby is volunteering as a member of the school safety patrol this year. She wants to follow in her siblings' footsteps.

"It was really good to have a memory," she said of her experience last year. "Now it's time to do something new. I always liked how my two sisters looked on their posts. It looked like fun and I wanted to do it and now I am."

This is one in a series of stories on students who best exemplify the Broward County School District's eight character education traits -- cooperation, responsibility, citizenship, kindness, respect, honesty, self-control and tolerance -- and patriotism as part of all eight.

C. Ron Allen can be reached at crallen@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7917.