Marissa Maggio, Ethical Leader

Mr. Maggio is a biology teacher at my high school.  This past year, she led the effort to completely convert the garbage system in the cafeteria to a recycling/terracycling system.  She is also the manager of my school's environmental club and does most of the organizing and fundraising for the club.  I would classify her as a North leader.  She is forceful and obviously passionate, but not overbearing.  In general, the people at my school are not very dedicated to the clubs that they are in.  One of the challenges she faced was making sure that the people who were involved were committed to the club, and making sure that they volunteered enough to achieve the club's goals.  She ended up upping the requirements to stay in the club at the cost of the more unreliable but necessary members.  In terms of ethical challenges, switching the school's trash from purely trash cans to a complicated 4 step recycling program was a decision that was met with some resistance.  Every trash can in the cafeteria was replaced, so the cafeteria regulars were forced to accept the change without choice.  It took more effort and time than before to dispose of trash, and took much more intensive volunteering to maintain and prevent contamination of non-recyclables.  She ended up stepping over criticisms in favor of the greater good.  She is not afraid to make hard decisions and has led our school to an honorable mention among citywide recycling programs.