Student Leadership Johns Creek Begins 5th Year

Fulton County School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Rose and School Board President Linda McCain were on hand to help kick-off Student Leadership Johns Creek as the program enters its fifth year.

Instead of back to school shopping or sleeping in on Saturday, Aug. 6, 90 students representing Centennial, Chattahoochee, Johns Creek and Northview high schools spent a full day at a retreat held at Perimeter Church by the Sojourn Adventure staff.

These sophomore-senior year students participated in team building exercises including the High Ropes, Zipline, Pole Jump and Laser Tag courses as well as discussions about the importance of leadership and goal setting. Besides acquiring leadership skills, the students learn project management skills that help them to develop a mentoring project with their local elementary or middle feeder school.

They also have the opportunity to spend a day at the Georgia capitol and meet state legislators along with a visit to the Fulton County government’s center and an unforgettable experience at the Fulton County Jail. SLJC provides valuable leadership development to motivated students who want to make a true difference in their community.

“They are empowered with the skills, training, and confidence they need to put their leadership training into action locally and they gain knowledge that can be applied for greater impact as a student and beyond," McCain said.

Along with leadership training, the students at the end of the second year will have shadowed a business or professional person at his/her job, created a personal on-line portfolio and discovered the importance of their digital footprint, learned about basic financial planning, developed a team project with their newly learned project management skills, and been introduced to Johns Creek’s operations and city government.

The two year SLJC program is managed by an advisory committee under the direction of Leadership Johns Creek, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, in collaboration with Fulton County Schools. Day to day functions are handled by Executive Director, Irene Sanders - a Johns Creek resident and mother of two graduates of Johns Creek High schools.

Participants are students who have demonstrated either solid or emerging leadership qualities in school, places of worship or in community service activities. Selection is through a rigorous application process which takes place beginning in December 2016.

Funding is made possible through the generous contributions of sponsors such as Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Gwinnett Medical Center and AT&T as well as tuition paid by the students and their families.

The goals of the program are upon completion, graduates will:

1. Be able to contribute positively to their schools and fill the need of training future student leaders of clubs and organizations,
2. Have increased awareness of the community outside of schools and personal activities,
3. Be better equipped to take on leadership roles at colleges and in careers,
4. Become future leaders of our city and beyond,
5. Have strong connections to, and become an integral part of, the future success of Johns Creek, and
6. Be empowered to serve their community and prepare for future jobs.

For more information, please contact: Irene Sanders Executive Director at sanders@leadershipjohnscreek.com