Inspiring Through Leadership

By Head of Upper School Greg Martin
I went into education because I love Shakespeare; he brings to life many of those activities that make us human, one being the evolving nature of leadership. Henry V leads the charge, for example, at Harfleur, shouting “Once more unto the breach, dear friends,” showing adeptness at leadership by example.

Before embarking for France, Henry builds strong relationships with aristocrats such as Exeter and church leaders such as the Archbishop of Canterbury. When in France, he works in disguise as Harry Leroy to learn more about the mindset of his soldiers before the battle of Agincourt. Henry is also a logistical and visionary tactician, uncovering plots to destroy him, and ensuring the safety of his men through nitty-gritty attention to detail. Flexibility and adaptability in leadership ultimately ensure Harry’s success. His most powerful tool isn’t this form of leadership or that; he reads situations and determines which model is appropriate given the circumstances.

At LJCDS, we offer students a wide array of leadership opportunities so students can prepare for future leadership roles in college and their professional lives. Also, because we are a mission-driven school and we promote social responsibility, our hope is that these leadership opportunities will also manifest in nonprofit work and service to one’s community. There are obvious leadership opportunities in several campus organizations:
  • Community Service Board
  • Ethics Council
  • Student Council
  • Peer Leaders
  • Spectrum
  • Green Team
  • SDLC (Student Diversity Leadership Conference “graduates”)

Each of these campus organizations calls upon students to lead by example, just as King Henry did at Harfluer. Our student representatives on the Ethics Council, for instance, are highly respected for their care and attention to our most cherished values. Our Spectrum and Peer leaders focus on the culture of building relationships, another aspect of successful leadership. Our Student Council leaders, though they never disguise themselves (except maybe during Spirit Week!), certainly are tasked with taking the pulse of the student climate and working with members of the faculty and administrative team to build a better experience for the students at LJCDS. The students who just attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Atlanta are working on building the plan for the Hope Conference in the spring, something that requires adeptness with logistics and careful planning.
             
In the end, however, all of these leadership opportunities require all of the multiple varieties of leadership. Further, the opportunities for leadership, though formalized in these organizations, do not end here. Our athletic and arts programs also offer extensive and multiple leadership experiences. The captains of athletic teams go through an extensive leadership program created by Director of Athletics Jeff Hutzler and Upper School history and social science teacher and varsity football and baseball coach Robert Grasso. The students in the Madrigals and those who write, direct and produce student plays are called upon to develop their leadership skills. The classroom itself also offers endless opportunities for academic leadership. In short, we know our students will be the future leaders of our world and will, themselves, inspire greatness. Please join me in thanking the students and our faculty mentors for inspiring, through leadership, greatness for a better world.

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