Peer Leadership: Teaching Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

 

The Peer Leadership class is a year-long senior elective that introduces students to the concepts of leadership, while simultaneously engaging them in hands-on leadership activities. The course hits the ground running with an intensive, three-day retreat. The peer leaders use the time to pair up to become co-advisors, assigned to each 9th grade advisory. Throughout the year, the students will help their freshman advisees navigate the rocky road that leads into high school.

 

Throughout the year the students study leadership concepts through discussion of different leadership philosophies. Studying texts such as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Student Leadership Challenge, A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future, and Serve to Lead (written by Newman Alumnus Jim Strock ’74), the students first develop an understanding of a variety of different leadership theories and then apply those leadership concepts to a variety of situations. In addition to the texts, the class sometimes has guest speakers. This year, Newman alumnus Lt. Andrew Darlington ’05, who is being deployed to Afghanistan, spoke to the class about leadership in the military.

 

In the first semester, the students strive to define leadership and themselves as leaders. Part of the process is for each student to develop his or her own personal leadership philosophy, as well as a mission statement. The second builds on leadership skills. By the end of the year, each senior will have completed a design proposal for a business, non-profit organization, or class – each student is responsible for their own start-up, complete and ready to pitch to potential backers.

 

Students are assessed by homework assignments, tests and projects, just as in other classes, but their growth as leaders is not as easily quantifiable. Lori Bush says that one way to measure their growth is to watch the development of their philosophy and mission statement as they revise them over time. “Watching that document develop shows a great deal of growth in their personal character,” says Bush. “We also have them documenting their growth, and we can see their growing sense of what matters to them and their sense of where they want to go after leaving high school.”

 

The effects of the course have an impact here at the school, and beyond the School’s walls. The 9th graders that the seniors work with appreciate the attention that they get; according to Bush, “What they say overwhelmingly is that their favorite part is learning from the seniors’ experiences and getting to know a senior… it makes them feel a lot more connected.” But the dividends of the course are really paid after the students move on to college and beyond. “We expect them to go on to college and be proactive while they are there, joining clubs and seeking out leadership opportunities,” says Bush.

 

In 2011, the Peer Leadership Program was endowed, thanks to a generous donation by a group of Newman Alumni. A gift from Field Ogden ’91, Allison Berger Tiller ’96, Darryl Berger ’98, Brandon Berger ’99, and Ryan Berger ’01 makes it possible for the School to offer this class to the future leaders in Newman's senior class.