Twice in the past week or so, Gorham High School senior Kayla Demers has stood in front of faculty and administrators at the school, telling them the tasks she expects them to carry out for two different events she is organizing.

“I went to school here and I couldn’t see standing in front of my principal, vice principal and teachers giving them directions like that,” said Gorham High School Principal Keith Parent. “She is a wonderful kid and deserving of everything she gets.”

Demers, who lives in Randolph, has been named the Francis Wayland Parker Scholar for January. The award is in honor of the New Hampshire man known as the “father of progressive education.”

“What has Francis Wayland Parker done for me?” Demers wrote in her winning essay. “Simply, he has prevented me from losing interest in learning and he has prevented me from falling asleep at my desk. He thought learning should be appealing, exciting, and for the most part, his methods have been laced throughout the curriculum in my school.”

The daughter of William and Lucie Demers, Kayla Demers is at the top of her class of 40. The National Honor Society member is president of the student council and a member of the varsity basketball and soccer teams.

Outside of school, she tutors middle school students, is involved with the Adopt-a-Highway program and volunteers with the elementary school basketball tournaments.

“I don’t have much free time,” Demers said with a laugh. “But when I do, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family.” As she makes her way through her senior year, she is preparing for life beyond high school, applying to nine colleges. Although she hasn’t narrowed down her many interests, her top school choice would be Tufts University.

“I liked the atmosphere and the diversity,” she said. “There are lots of options and it’s right near Boston.”

Demers has a flair for language. After she completed all the available high school French classes last year, she carried on with an independent study course. Studying abroad is definitely in her plans, as well as travel.

Other nominees for the January award are: Nicholas Dube, Campbell High School; Molly Eckel, Manchester High School West; Charlotte Evans, The Derryfield School; Mario Giroux, Colebrook Academy; Timothy Gocklin, Manchester Memorial High School; Amy Goodnough, Plymouth Regional High School; James Haight, Dover High School; Laura Mills, Winnisquam Regional High School; Jeffrey Pelkey, Monadnock Regional High School; Matthew Pelletier, Alvirne High School; and Madeline Quick, Conant High School.

The Francis Wayland Parker Scholarship program is sponsored by the New Hampshire Association of School Principals, in cooperation with the New Hampshire Union Leader, Verizon, Lifetouch Studios and the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Northern New England.

For more information, call the New Hampshire Association of School Principals at 225-3431.