Malcolm GauldThis thing has really taken off!
The Maine State Leadership Alliance was launched on the Hyde-Bath campus in April of 2014. The intention was to provide a forum for Maine students and teachers that would provide opportunities for explorations of individual and collective leadership. That first conference reflected humble beginnings with just over 100 students attending from 8 public and private schools. In less than two years, Leaders of the 207 has grown exponentially, by a… get this: factor of 10!
Lets you think I’m exaggerating, Last Friday (11/6/15), we hosted 1,100 students and teachers from 55 high schools and middle schools. In addition to the en masse opening and closing assemblies, each participant experienced three 30-minute workshops facilitated by some of Maine’s top business and non-profit leaders. Some of these included:
– Women in Leadership;
– Leading On and Off the Athletic Field;
– Outdoor Leadership;
– Racial Diversity;
– Making it as an Entrepreneur;
– Buy Local – Entrepreneurship;
– Why I Give Back.
The morning kicked off with an inspiring keynote address by United States Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine). Initially focusing her remarks on the importance of turning those we perceive to be enemies into allies, Senator Collins challenged the 1000+ students assembled to take a united stand against cyber-bullying. Her observations set the stage for some spirited workshops for all.
Everybody was given a lot to think about. Here’s a pensive Hyde junior (Khaleil DePass ’17).
Leigh Jaynes, who bills herself as “Chick Wrestler,” challenged all to “Make the Most of Every Opportunity.” (Don’t miss Leigh’s cool t-shirt logo!)
HAPA parent (Jesse ’05, Lucas ’07, and Isaac ’09) Reade Brower teamed up with wife Martha to present a workshop called “The Road to Leadership.”
Hyde faculty members Claire and Ken Grant asked workshop attendees, “Are you an Eagle or a Goose?”
Even Hyde founder Joe Gauld got into the act with “The Four Principles of Becoming a Leader.”
But the workshops weren’t all that happened. It was all about the people.
And the relationships.
So many people came together from Hyde and across the state to make this happen. A special shout-out needs to go to Stefan Jensen who owned it from start to finish. Here he is directing traffic:
While I’m sure he can use a break, all of us look forward to the next one. If you’re interested, you’ll have two choices in the future as Hyde-Woodstock will be hosting the first Connecticut State Leadership Alliance in April of 2016.
Onward, Malcolm Gauld
