When Model UN began preparing for one of its biggest conferences of the year in March 2024, former social studies teacher Mark Pontoni asked psychology teacher Jade Bennett to assist him in advising the club. Bennett recalled that it was framed as a ‘trial run’ — if Pontoni were to retire, she might be the one there to take over the program.
“I thought ‘he’ll at least have another year, and I can find somebody else to take over,’” Bennett said.
But when Pontoni unexpectedly announced his retirement towards the end of the 2023-2024 school year, Bennett became the sole advisor.
“It was last minute,” Bennett said. “I didn’t intend to take over for Model UN, so I was surprised and nervous because I didn’t feel ready or like I could handle that responsibility.”
Even before he began working at ELHS, Pontoni was known for being heavily associated with Model UN. Aside from being a club advisor, he was also the organizer and president of the Mid-American Model United Nations (MAMUN), a three-day conference that is held each spring. As a result of this, Bennett felt a sense of pressure to keep up with the legacy Pontoni left behind.
“He was the one who started the entire organization in the state of Michigan, so, talk about big shoes to fill,” Bennett said. “He knows everything about the Model UN process. He was the main guy.”
Because of Pontoni’s experience, he was able to help club members as an administrator and assist them with the debates and conferences they were participating in. The transition in leadership didn’t go unnoticed by the club members. Club president Katie Palsrok (12) noted that the shift in leadership changed the dynamic of how the club operated.
“They both have very hands-off leadership styles [because] the club is run by the students,” Palsrok said. “Mr. Pontoni was more of a ‘wise old sage’ because of his experience. Ms. Bennett is learning with us. She’s aware of that and completely accepting of that.”
Palsrok also noted a change in how the club was perceived by the students and organizers at the conference.
“[We] kind of had special privileges a little bit,” Palsrok said. “We have to advocate for ourselves more now that Pontoni isn’t the name associated with the club.”
For Bennett, taking on such a big role came with a lot of pressure, especially since many people looked up to Pontoni and appreciated everything he did for the club.
“Everybody really respected him in the club and valued his advice,” Bennett said. “This is what I was probably the most nervous about.”
When March came back around this year, so did the MAMUN conference Bennett had been asked to help with on day one. Bennett had all the same challenges she faced at the beginning of the year for other conferences, such as booking hotel rooms and managing budgets. They were new to her then, but now they are much more manageable.
“I made it a point at the conference to stop in some of the different rooms that the students were in to watch them give speeches, and see the process to be a little bit more to be more involved that way,” Bennett said. “I think the only other way that I would be able to learn the process would be if I were to actually immerse myself in it.”
Bennett also noted that last year at the conference, ELHS won the “Most prepared school award,” which had gone out to both her and Pontoni. This prestige award, which honors a school based on its readiness, came as a surprise to the club this year, even though they had received it for two consecutive years prior.
“I know that the club is well-prepared,” Bennett said. “We had great presidents who took control of all of the different things that I couldn’t help them with, and that is the big reason why we won that award.”
While Bennett was proud of herself for helping the students get to that point, she was even more proud of the work the students put in to win the award, alongside eight individual awards.
“You don’t win that award unless the students that you bring there are the best,” Bennett said. “My students–that I brought–were the best.”