Liberty Elementary students spent the month of February focused on a simple idea: kindness.

The school’s “Kindness Crusade” included student-led weekly activities and an assembly celebrating the power of compassion, culminating in one student being named the “Kindest Kid in the World” for the day.

That student was a surprised 11-year-old Zoey Jones.

“I didn’t know this would be happening,” the sixth-grader said afterward. “I was filled with pure shock.”

The recognition came as part of a program led by Jessie Hansen, director of the Kindest Kid in the World, who travels the world highlighting children who demonstrate exceptional kindness. Hansen, who is working toward her doctorate, is studying the power of kindness to reduce school shootings.

“I started this program one-and-one-half years ago to find the kindest kids and shine a spotlight on them to encourage other students to follow their lead,” she said. “As I analyzed the school shootings, one common thread was they all needed more kindness. At one time or another, they felt hurt and that resulted in acting out. So I want to help by starting with children right now, maybe there’s a kid who is having a hard life and needs to know they have a choice. My focus is helping these children decide who they are and know they can make a positive difference. We can get upstream of it; this program gives encouragement.”

As part of the program, Hansen writes a custom children’s book about the winners and puts their picture on it and gives not only the child the book, but also the school library so decades of children can get inspired by the student. With the support of sponsor Minky Couture, the program already has produced 40 books from kind children in 27 states, Canada and Mexico — and soon Japan, England as well as African countries. 

Hansen read Zoey’s custom book, describing her as a “kind leader” who notices when others need support and ensures classmates are included.

“I try to help in the way, I can,” Zoey said. “I like to see people smile. I like to see people happy and laughing. For me, that’s what it’s about, to make sure the world is happier.”

Hansen asked students to think about kindness in their own lives.

“I want you to point to someone in this room who you know is a kind kid,” she said. “I love this. You’re all pointing at each other. Kindness matters, doesn’t it? It matters because we remember who is kind to us. It’s important because as human beings, we need to feel connected. We need to feel like we belong. We need to be included. We need kindness in our world.”

Hansen learned that lesson at Centennial Junior High when her then-best friend turned on her and she felt alone and lashed out at others.

“My life changed the day my principal talked to me; he became my hero,” she told students. “He changed my life through kindness.”

Hansen encouraged students to complete a five-day kindness challenge.

“Can you do five acts of kindness each day for five days?” she said. “It can be simple things. It can be sharing a drink with a friend at lunch. It could be donating some toys you don’t play with often. It could be giving a meal to a homeless person. It could be giving your teacher a hug.”

Liberty Principal Shana Mondragon said the school’s month-long effort Kindness Crusade was designed to focus on positive actions in the school.

“We started talking about World Kindness Day and thought to spotlight the positive things happening,” she said. “So, I asked Mrs. (Michelle) Bauman (school social worker) to work with student council and they developed the Kindness Crusade with weekly activities that the students led.”

Those included decorating classroom doors with kind displays, being the “I” in kind, building a school kindness rock garden focused on positive messages and creating a paper chain of kindness pledges which was hung in the school’s multipurpose room — which will be shared with Hansen as part of her effort to promote 200 schools during 5,000 acts each in an effort to share the compassion across the country.

At the assembly, Mondragon recognized kindness ambassadors from each grade: Kindergarten, Bentley Kinder; First, Amelia Decol; Second, Yareilett Palestino; Third, Aihoa Arcia Rangel; Fourth, Ava Wall; Fifth, Tyce Lavery; and sixth, Mathis Florez.

Ava’s parents were amongst those who applauded the ambassadors.

“She likes to include everybody,” her mother, Nicole, said. “Our house is tiny, but she will let the whole classroom come over if she could.”

Zoey’s father, Casey, said Zoey’s recognition reflects his daughter’s nature.

“That’s who she is,” he said. “To be recognized in front of the whole school and all her friends is really neat. I hope this will inspire other kids and even adults to continue to spread kindness and love and light that this world so desperately needs.”

For Zoey, it wasn’t about the Kindness Kid in the World medal recognition.

“The most important thing is like Jessie said, it’s about treating others with kindness,” she said. “I want to see the world in a better place without bullies or ‘grumpy cats.’ Positivity is a good thing to have, and we should all strive for good.”