SHS Leadership Program by Benjamin Schoonmaker
The Leadership Program is a group of students at Saugatuck High School led by Saugatuck staff members Daniel Sullivan and Rick Bauer. The group aims to nurture leadership skills and respect in younger Saugatuck students who are not yet in high school.
Last year, about ten SHS students were selected by Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Bauer because those students were recommended by their peers to have kindness and most importantly, good leadership skills. Over the next couple of weeks, the group then met and learned about what types of leaders there were, as well as the impact of leadership in different situations. The Leadership Program has continued to develop since then and the number of SHS students involved has increased.
In between 2nd and 3rd hour during the school day, there is an advisory period at Saugatuck High School. Every two weeks, this leadership group goes to the Douglas Elementary School during advisory and meets with about thirty 4th and 5th grade students. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Bauer have an activity set up which usually involves both the SHS and DES students working together with each other to achieve a goal or complete a task. Afterward, Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Bauer ask questions about what was observed and let both groups of students share their thoughts.
The goal of the Leadership Program is to teach younger students when to listen, when to speak, to have patience, to prioritize respect, how to lead, and when to let someone else lead. Mr. Bauer and Mr. Sullivan work with DES staff to get students who struggle with applying these ideas in school to get involved in the program.
The Leadership Program was created because of the growing problem of misbehavior and frustration among students going into SHS. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Bauer wanted to address the issue closer to the source rather than focus on disciplinary action and behavioral improvement in SHS. Using good role modeling and leadership, Sullivan and Bauer hope to improve SHS. So far, the Leadership Program has proven to be effective. The 5th graders involved in the program last year have had positive feedback from middle school’s teachers.
This is only the second school year for the Leadership Program, and those involved are hopeful for its future development, as well as the possible formation of a class course for leadership.
Last year, about ten SHS students were selected by Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Bauer because those students were recommended by their peers to have kindness and most importantly, good leadership skills. Over the next couple of weeks, the group then met and learned about what types of leaders there were, as well as the impact of leadership in different situations. The Leadership Program has continued to develop since then and the number of SHS students involved has increased.
In between 2nd and 3rd hour during the school day, there is an advisory period at Saugatuck High School. Every two weeks, this leadership group goes to the Douglas Elementary School during advisory and meets with about thirty 4th and 5th grade students. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Bauer have an activity set up which usually involves both the SHS and DES students working together with each other to achieve a goal or complete a task. Afterward, Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Bauer ask questions about what was observed and let both groups of students share their thoughts.
The goal of the Leadership Program is to teach younger students when to listen, when to speak, to have patience, to prioritize respect, how to lead, and when to let someone else lead. Mr. Bauer and Mr. Sullivan work with DES staff to get students who struggle with applying these ideas in school to get involved in the program.
The Leadership Program was created because of the growing problem of misbehavior and frustration among students going into SHS. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Bauer wanted to address the issue closer to the source rather than focus on disciplinary action and behavioral improvement in SHS. Using good role modeling and leadership, Sullivan and Bauer hope to improve SHS. So far, the Leadership Program has proven to be effective. The 5th graders involved in the program last year have had positive feedback from middle school’s teachers.
This is only the second school year for the Leadership Program, and those involved are hopeful for its future development, as well as the possible formation of a class course for leadership.