UR the Future
In cooperation with Providence Middle School in Chesterfield, Virginia, and the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond
Description
This is a year-long program for students at Providence Middle School in Chesterfield County. Accepted students embark on a journey that begins with a one-day course on leadership during the summer at the University of Richmond and continues throughout the school year with subsequent sessions on important leadership topics. Drawing from the main ideas explored at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, this program utilizes a wide array of exercises and activities that encourage students to think creatively and critically about leadership. Students are challenged to develop their own personal leadership philosophy as well as identify and apply their own skills as young leaders.
Participants
Rising eighth graders at Providence Middle School are invited to apply to the program during the spring term. The application asks students to indicate their community service activities and programs as well as their extracurricular activities. Students also reflect on four leadership issues: What is a leader; Suggest three topics you feel are crucial to the middle school environment that a good leader would want to address; What can you do in your school as a leader to be successful and create an impact in your school and your community and What is there about your personality that makes you a person with strong leadership potential? In 2008 Providence received over 50 applications for 25 spots in their first class of students to participate in this program. Candidates are evaluated by a five-member panel consisting of the grade-level administrator, grade-level guidance counselor and three teachers: a special education teacher, an elective teacher, and a core subject teacher. Students earn scores for each application component and the highest scoring students are accepted into the program.
Program
Before the spring term ends, selected students and their families attend a welcome event at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies. A few months later in August, participants return for a one-day kick-off event at the University of Richmond. This session is designed to introduce students to the basic concept of leadership as well as help them identify it in their local and global communities. Students have the opportunity to explore their own leadership skills and learn to recognize leadership in new ways and new places. They also have an opportunity to speak with representatives from the James River High School’s Leadership and International Relations specialty center.
After the kick-off event participants return to Providence with a strong introduction to leadership and its related components. Then, throughout the school year, a series of four sessions are held which address specific leadership topics, including "Followership/Group Dynamics", "Service to Society", "Ethics", "and Leadership in Action". Each one explores in depth a critical pillar of the broader process of leadership. Students will address a wide range of issues from resolving group conflict to developing a process for evaluating an ethical challenge. A fundamental theme integrated into every event during the program is a commitments to helping participants identify how they can apply what they are studying in the classroom to their own lives.
These programs are held at Providence Middle School as well as the University of Richmond campus. Current students from the Jepson School join the staff from the Center for Leadership in Education to develop and execute each session.
Resources
For More Information
Tameshia V. Grimes, Principal
P
rovidence Middle School
900 Starlight Lane
Richmond, VA 23235
(804) 674 – 1355 (office)
(804) 674 – 1361 (fax)
Tameshia_Grimes@ccpsnet.net
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