How can we help create leaders?

We want our students to be positive leaders.  That is a given. So, how do we create conditions for them to learn the skills needs and to hone their current skills to be leaders in the building, community and world beyond the greater New Hampton area? This year we have started to engage students in a variety of ways.

Two weeks ago, we took a group of students to Parkersburg to the Ed Thomas Leadership Academy. They were able to see a variety of speakers and focus on some of our building needs with growing positive leadership. Students came away with ideas to work on their own servant leadership and getting energized to move forward.  This event is often a springboard for the rest of the year with our PBIS team and LEAD members.  In addition to this day, students brainstormed ways to keep the momentum for the group.

LEAD is now in its third year and we have had over 70 kids at our meetings.  One of the LEAD goals is to work with the middle school to begin the process earlier.  This week six high school students attended middle school LEAD to talk about why engaging as a leader is so important at any grade level.

Also this week, the PBIS student team attended the first of three conference leadership days at the CWC.  Each school from the NEIC conference is invited to attend.  This year the conference principals are focusing on moving forward as a group to have goals for conference events and behavior as well as how to improve relationships among the conference schools. This week students set individual, school and conference goals.











The real question remains, though.  Are we creating leaders who "walk the talk"? Leadership is truly about character.  Who are you when no one is watching?  How do you demonstrate this in every setting, in and out of school, on and off the field/court/gym/auditorium? During the building leadership teacher meeting this week, those questions dominated our conversation and will continue to do so.  If we are not helping create and foster leaders, we are not fulfilling one of the tenets of school. We are preparing students to be citizens in our changing world and are always looking for ways to engage students as leaders.