It is that time of year when we inevitably look ahead.  The seniors look ahead to college and commencement.  The upper middlers look ahead to leading the school in significant, important, and challenging ways.  All underclass students choose their classes for 2008-09 and wonder what the next year will be like for them academically.  With their advisers, teachers, and others I hope they develop a good vision and picture of their success while they work on the tools they need to reach that vision.

Every spring term I speak with the upper middlers about their roles for senior year.  Later in the term they will experience “leadership academy.”  As our AFG (Accreditation for Growth) leadership group of faculty and students continues to move ahead with the leadership goal for students, the team members have interesting debates on what defines leadership.  The definition of leadership is a much more difficult question than it appears on the surface, and we aim to choose elements that will be most helpful to teach and promote in students as they move ahead in the world.  

At a recent conference I was fortunate to hear the words of Daniel Pink.  Pink has written several books;  the one I am currently reading is called A Whole New Mind.  In his talk, he urged the educators in the audience to teach students for their futures and not to our pasts.  He believes the world is moving from the information age to the conceptual age.  Although none of us have the crystal ball to know the future, we do know that students need to be prepared to work collaboratively and creatively.   Also, especially as adolescents, they need to develop the basic skills to be able to accomplish that collaboration and creativity.    Mercersburg’s approach to leadership is both practical and visionary.  I don’t believe you can separate the two.

In the meeting with upper middlers, I emphasize that all of us are leaders.  We need to think about being our best selves every day and focus on the here and now.  Leadership is not a position.  However, leaders can have an impact and serve others through important positions.  I invite you to join in conversations with your children about leadership;  as we collaborate in the most creative ways, we help the students find their best qualities and strengths and put them to good use to serve others.