Youth Development and Leadership
Youth Development and Leadership Action Team Update (Fall 2009)
The strategic intents for Youth Development and Leadership include:
- By 2013, 100% of students, Pre-K-12, will participate in a meaningful leadership building opportunity.
- By 2013, 100% of middle and high school students will score 25 or above on the Search Institute Developmental Asset survey.
The Youth Development and Leadership Action Team looked at national research on 21st century skills in 2008-2009 to discover what it takes for our students to be successful. The team found that students need to feel a connection to school, have clear and consistent expectations and have positive adult relationships.
To foster this school culture, the District adopted Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS). This best practice, data driven model focuses on teaching and reinforcing high expectations. The model has been adopted districtwide.
After exploring additional promising programs, ESM adopted Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" as a best practice model to support Youth Development and Leadership. These habits can be reviewed at the Covey Institute website, www.stephencovey.com.
More than 100 ESM teachers were trained in the seven habits this summer by eight district facilitators. Additional training is scheduled this year with a plan to focus on both staff and students. Infusing these seven habits into the school environment has a successful track record in schools around the world.
In addition, ESM's support counseling department captured baseline data on student involvement in leadership-building opportunities. At the secondary level, a survey showed that approximately 70% of ESM's middle and high school students are involved in some school-related club or other activity.
Fostering leadership in all students is critical. It is well documented that school involvement leads to greater school success.
This year the action team will look at ways to involve all students in at least one school-related activity and evaluate how these activities promote youth development and leadership.
Facilitators: Cheryl West and Barb Englehart
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