A Way Forward Wednesday July 1, 2020

Dear ASMS Community,

Leadership is at the very core of the ASMS mission statement. It is our aim to equip students to positively transform their community, state, and nation through their leadership - as current students and as graduates. During their time at ASMS, many of our students become leaders through the positions they hold and the roles they are called to serve in on our campus.

However, is a person a leader simply by holding a position? Is a person prepared to maximize their leadership when given a title or responsibility? Does a person know how to spend their time and energy when entrusted with a leadership role?

The ASMS Jo Bonner Leadership Academy (JBLA) was created to answer all of these questions as our school takes a more intentional approach to student leadership development. Through the JBLA, our students will learn about exemplary leadership, and when we think about exemplary leadership, we think about our school board chairman, Jo Bonner. He graciously agreed to let us name the Leadership Academy after him, and he will serve as our key-note speaker at the JBLA retreat.

The Jo Bonner Leadership Academy will maximize the potential of ASMS students to do the exceptional and to lead with purpose. Through a combination of leadership development and experiential learning, the academy provides opportunities for students to participate in group workshops, team building exercises, skill trainings, breakout sessions, and personal reflection. Students will learn to achieve goals and address challenges through realizing their own leadership impact and working collaboratively on a team. Graduates of the academy will live with character, serve generously, and envision the future for themselves and the world around them.

The JBLA was created with a long-term view for our students as well. It will provide our students with a robust leadership experience on their resume for the purpose of college admission. It is also modeled after college-level leadership programs, so our students will have a strong leadership foundation when applying to such programs one day.

Pending COVID-19 procedures, it is our intent that ASMS Ambassadors, Peer Advisors, and SGA members will participate in a JBLA leadership retreat and several trainings this fall. Upon successful completion, these students will be considered graduates of the 2020 Jo Bonner Leadership Academy and fully approved and equipped to move into their leadership roles.

We look forward to working with our students through this program and continuing to share with our community as it unfolds. We appreciate your support as we pour into our students in this innovative, meaningful way.

With joy,

Allyson McMaken

Assistant Director of Communications and Alumni Outreach

SGA Co-Advisor