Leadership + Growth
Student Success Agency — August 2019
With the start of the new school year, we can encourage our students to try new things and become leaders in their schools and communities. It’s important for us to help our students develop growth mindsets so they can see the value in growing as leaders!
Our Students as Leaders
When students gain leadership skills and experience in school, they will be better prepared for college and careers. Through leadership, students learn how to collaborate and build positive relationships with others, achieve tasks and goals effectively, and develop their personal identities.
Educators have the awesome privilege and opportunity to help our students see themselves as leaders and recognize their potential! Here are just a few ways you can support your students as leaders:
- Encourage your students to sign up for a new extracurricular or activity.
- Encourage your students to run for a leadership position in their sports or extracurricular activities.
- Encourage your students to start a club for something they’re interested in and find a teacher or staff at their school as a sponsor.
- Encourage your students to start a community service project about something they’re passionate about.
- Plan for and encourage your students to attend leadership conferences or conferences in areas they are interested in.
- Encourage your students to seek out support and collaboration from peers and mentors.
- Implement social-emotional learning practices, such as a growth mindset curriculum, into your teaching and advising.
- Allow older students to mentor younger students.
- Encourage students to apply for a new job or ask for a promotion at their current job.
- Encourage students to find an internship in a field they are interested in.
- Encourage students to take advantage of new opportunities.
- Give students responsibilities in your program or school (if you don’t have a Student Ambassador role it’s the perfect time to create one!).
- Talk to students about why developing their leadership is important and how it will benefit them.
Growth Mindset
As we encourage our students to step out in leadership positions and try new activities it’s important that they see through hard work and learning, their skills can be developed and they are capable of achieving their goals and dreams. We can refer to this as having a “Growth Mindset”. The contrasting point of view is called a “Fixed Mindset”, where students believe their skills are limited. When we help students develop a growth mindset, we can help them achieve at higher levels.
Edutopia has a great collection of articles and videos that support growth mindset with our students. CLICK HERE for the link to the Edutopia website!
SSA Collaboration — ICON program
Did you know SSA has a leadership program for students?! Our ICON program is a student representative program for SSA student. ICON stands for Influence, Cultivate, Originate, Network.
ICONs are an extremely selective group of the top-performing and influential students who will be our biggest leaders, change-makers, and dream chasers that will push the culture forward. We will invest in this group through resources, time, and opportunity so they can maximize their potential and development as an ICON and leader.
Students who become ICONs will participate in virtual monthly ICON meetings, Network with ICONs across the country, and complete 2 projects using company budget to increase SSA involvement at their school.
Students who become ICONs will get networking opportunities, a resume booster, scholarship and stipend opportunities, ICON swag, and access to ICON exclusive training and workshops!
Students can be nominated and apply to be an ICON at the beginning of each new semester! We have just finalized our list of ICONs for Fall 2019! Be on the lookout for a list of ICONs at your schools next week!
CLICK HERE to see what our ICON program is all about!
