Provided by the Alhambra Unified School District
Thirty-eight AUSD high school students started their summer with an intensive two-day leadership and team-building program. On May 30 and 31, they made their way to the Monterey Park Service Club House, where they were guided by Mr. John Losey (from Into Wisdom Group) about “Finding the Leader in Each of Us.”
The students were members of the district’s Student Advisory Council or were identified as potential student leaders by their principal. The students, who represented all three AUSD high schools, engaged in a variety of innovative activities designed to develop essential leadership skills. Key topics included effective communication, building trust within groups, working collaboratively to achieve goals, and managing relationship conflicts and behaviors.
Dr. Denise Jaramillo, AUSD superintendent, emphasized the importance of providing these types of training opportunities for our youth. “Our student leaders and the Student Advisory Council are vital to our school community. Their dedication and enthusiasm are truly inspiring, and programs like this equip them with the skills they need to lead effectively and make a positive impact.”
This is the second time AUSD has partnered with John Losey, having received overwhelmingly positive responses to his training the previous year. With a background in camp leadership, along with his extensive experience with Fortune 500 companies, Losey balanced short “chalk talk” discussions with outdoor physical activities – each illustrating an important leadership skill that could carry over into students’ classrooms, on the athletic field, in committees, and in larger community settings.
Board members and administrators were present to support the students during the training sessions, demonstrating their commitment to fostering the growth of future leaders. Their participation underscored the district’s dedication to student development, leadership training, and valuing student voices. Justin Wang, AUSD’s 2023-24 Student Board Member, was also there and provided assistance throughout the training as one of his last official duties before heading to UC Berkeley. His involvement exemplified the spirit of leadership and dedication promoted by the program, and his desire to leave a lasting imprint in his role.
Participating students seemed to take the training to heart as they reflected on how they will implement their new skills and knowledge when school resumes. Some emphasized a greater understanding of the role communication plays in leadership, that building and increasing trust is necessary to lead others, to listen carefully before acting, the importance of emotional intelligence, and the necessity of leaning on others to achieve a collective goal. Some students stated they felt challenged and inspired to take on new leadership roles at their schools, while others mentioned that the highlight of the days was meeting students from the other high schools and interacting with people they might not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet.
AUSD is looking forward to seeing the positive impact these young leaders will have in the upcoming school year, and to supporting them as they stretch and grow as leaders in the community.
