Local school principal hopes "Leadership coins" become a tradition

Addison Gentz – Mustangs Ahead Junior Associate Editor

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) - Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) Principal Mike Mullen has taken on the tradition of handing out leadership coins once a month to select teachers, students, or school officials.

Mullen got the idea for the leadership coin from a secret service member he met that shared the story of how the president handed similar coins to secret service members.

The coins are given to teachers, students, or school officials who go out of their way to do the little things.

Mullen said, "it's the people who, kind of, tone the line. Those who make their experience for their peers, or their students, around them better."

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The four people that have received a coin so far have been excited and gracious, and are -

• Manatee County School District Superintendent Dr. Laurie Breslin
• LRHS English teacher Jennifer Grant
• LRHS English Sejal Desai
• Senior Macklin Higgins
• LRHS engineering teacher Bryan Richards
• LRHS guardian Tim Liffey

Mullen said, "They felt special. I want them to feel a sense of gratitude from me and they're doing things that I appreciate."