By Kadi Pojeta

We hear a lot of talk from adults about school climate and school improvement these days—from principals, teachers, school board members. Let us not forget some of the most powerful and eager people within the walls of your school building - students!

Depending on your perspective, kids can do amazing things or they're becoming a troubled generation. Regardless of your view, here's what I've learned working closely with student leaders all around Michigan:

The Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) sponsors two student leadership organizations, the Michigan Associations of Student Councils and Honor Societies (MASC/MAHS). As the coordinator for these programs for the past seven years, I have seen tremendous work come from the student leaders across our state. We host a variety of conferences throughout the year and we are confident these workshops help develop much-needed leadership skills in students.

Our Executive Forum, provides newly elected student officers with a one-day, intense "how-to" training. Students elected to the positions of president, vice president, secretary, historian, school board liaison, whatever the position may be, will work closely with others holding similar positions back at their own school.

They learn the process, the responsibilities, and the challenges all associated with their new role. The conference includes sessions on public speaking, peer delegating, and working with administrators, just to list a few topics. Time is also provided for the school adviser/moderator to sit with the students and begin planning for the following school year with relevant goals and ideas.

To learn more about our Executive Forum on May 18, 2009, in Lansing, please visit:
www.mascmahs.org/executiveforum.

Making a more profound impact on students are the summer leadership camps we offer for students in late July. 

MASSP facilitates a four-day camp for middle level students and a six-day camp for high school students. The camp itself focuses on student councils and honor societies, yet each year we get calls from parents of students that have heard about this incredible program and want to be a part of it!

Our goal is to develop school leaders - whether they're in a formal student club or not, we know the potential that exists inside of them and we are proud to say that our program consistently challenges students year after year to better themselves. This in turn finds its way back to your school in the form of students who are taking a more intense look around and realizing what needs to be different, better, changed.

Students will come back to school in the fall and shoulder more responsibility, take more initiative with projects, and begin to change the climate of your school for the better! Through lessons on project management, public speaking, problem solving, community action and more, camp attendees develop stronger leadership skills that continue to grow under the guidance of your school and community.

Open up a new world to your students - give them a chance to do something productive this summer. Put them in a climate that is enjoyable and engaging while at the same time, they are learning every minute whether they realize it or not.  In the end, they'll find confidence, skills, motivation, passion and friends.

To learn more about the MASC/MAHS Summer Leadership Camps, as well as the available scholarship opportunities from SET-SEG Education Foundation, MASSP, and the Jack Kalousek Foundation, visit our website:  www.mascmahs.org/camp

2009 Summer Leadership Camp Dates
Middle Level Program: July 19-22
High School Program: July 26-31

Kadi Pojeta is MASSP Coordinator of Student Leadership Services & Website Operations, kadi@mymassp.com, 517.327.5315.