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The Superintendent’s Cabinet of Student Leaders was established during the 2004-05 school year in an effort to identify students with emerging leadership qualities and provide them with developmental training and activities. Originally, membership was limited to a boy and a girl from each grade level, grades 5-12, chosen by campus administrators with the input of their staff. In November 2006, membership was more than doubled to include 2 boys and 2 girls in all grades 5-12, plus representatives from Comanche Accelerated Learning Center. Members of the Cabinet were involved in the selection of these new members.
The Cabinet idea was conceived from Superintendent Rick Howard’s involvement in the Commissioner of Education’s Cabinet of Superintendents, the student council concept at the campus level and hearing of other school’s activities in the field at the National Conference on Education sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators held in San Antonio in 2005. Meetings are conducted periodically throughout the year to (1) identify and develop leadership skills in students so they will be more able to contribute to the life of our campuses, their families, church and community, (2) involve them in school improvement initiatives, and (3) provide them the opportunity to distinguish themselves from the crowd when it comes time to compete for prestigious scholarships and college admissions.
Leadership developmental activities the Cabinet has been involved in include:
• Discussions about those whom they found to be leaders and their qualities;
• Read and discussed the book Leadership 101 by John C. Maxwell;
• Viewed and studied the Maxwell tape series Learning to Become a Person of Influence;
• Heard guest speakers with recognized local leadership roles and responsibilities;
• Heard from Cabinet alumni who have graduated high school and begun higher education.
The Cabinet has participated in the following school improvement initiatives:
• Reviewed AEIS and AYP data to determine barriers to student success;
• Expanded their circle of influence by inviting a friend to review the data and assist in identifying barriers to student success;
• Inspired a Leadership Summit in the Fall of 2005, Career Days in the spring and fall of 2006 and a Leadership Camp for all officers of classes, clubs and organizations in the spring of 2006;
• Improved the integrity of all students in their homework;
• Contributed to the District’s state accountability rating of “Recognized,” the federal accountability rating of Meets Adequate Yearly Progress, 2 campuses becoming eligible for Educator Excellence grants, 2 campuses selected for the Texas Business and Education Coalition Honor Roll, one campus nominated for a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Award, numerous Gold Performance Acknowledgements and dramatic improvements in the numbers of Commended Scholars.
The Cabinet has begun to distinguish themselves from the competition for prestigious scholarships and college admissions by:
• Visiting the state Capitol and meeting with Senator Troy Fraser, Representative Sid Miller and Commissioner of Education Dr. Shirley Neeley;
• Making presentations to the local Kiwanis Club, the Mid Winter Conference for School Administrators in Austin, and at the Texas Association of School Boards annual convention in Houston. They will once again present at the Mid Winter Conference in January 2007;
• Taking positions of leadership in campus and community organizations.