Student Leadership Program

FBISD Student Leaders Learn About Judicial System

The seminar was the third in a series of six that will be offered to the leadership class this school year. The students met with several county court officials to learn about their roles in the community and how the county judicial system works. J. C. Whitten, Director of Administrative Services, welcomed students and shared information about the court structure of Texas before leading students on a tour of the courthouse. County Court at Law Judge Sandy Bielstein, spoke to students about criminal law and the importance of being law abiding citizens. He recommended that students associate themselves with positive peer groups, who will help improve their lives rather than destroy them. Students also heard from Larry Elkins, Juvenile Probation Officer; and Mike Mead, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, who gave students a tour of the Juvenile Probation Facilities.  

“Students received a real and honest prospective on the judicial system,” said FBISD Board Member, Susan Hohnbaum. “It was definitely an eye-opening experience that students could appreciate and share with their peers. They are very fortunate to be among a group of students to receive this type of learning experience.”

The January leadership seminar also included a “Lead with your Strengths” lesson, taught by Olwen Herron, FBISD Chief Accountability and Organizational Development Officer; and Beth Martinez, FBISD Director of Organizational Development. The lesson was based on the StrengthsFinder online assessment from The Gallup Organization that students completed following their initial meeting in November. The lessons are intended to help students pinpoint their strengths (described as talents combined with knowledge and skill) and explore how those strengths can enhance their leadership potentials. Herron reminded students that “strengths that allow you to have a positive impact on the people around you are worth reflection.”

“This whole experience has proven to be both enlightening and fun for students as well as Board Members,” said Laurie Caldwell, FBISD Board Member. “Board members generally don’t have the opportunity to interact with students on a regular basis, and that was one of our main reasons for initiating this leadership program. We also wanted to give students the opportunity to be involved in learning opportunities that would expose them to various leadership roles that are represented throughout our community.”

The remaining student leadership seminars will focus on the topics of youth advocacy, service and volunteerism, environmental awareness and health care.

FBISD Student Leadership Group Visits City Hall

Students participating in the FBISD Student Leadership Program, a new initiative created for juniors, are ahead of the curve when it comes to exploring their personal roles in community leadership and service. The students recently visited the City of Sugar Land City Hall to meet with city officials and learn about various roles in government.

The students met with Mayor Allen Owen, City of Missouri City; Mayor Jimmy Thompson, City of Sugar Land; Council Member Jaqueline Chaumette, City of Sugar Land; City Manager Alan Bogard, City of Sugar Land; and Fort Bend County Commissioner, James Patterson. The dignitaries spoke of their roles in city and county government and answered students’ questions ranging from issues on taxes, city plans for expansion, transportation, and education.

Sponsored by FBISD Board Member Bob Broxson, this event was the second in a series of six that will be offered to the leadership group this school year. Broxson believes the Student Leadership Program gives students a great opportunity to develop a better understanding of their community and how it works.

“It’s important that students understand the complexities of our community and their roles in all of it,” said Broxson. “The knowledge and experiences these students receive will have a great impact not only in their lives, but in the lives of future participants of the program.”

The FBISD Student Leadership Program was initiated this year by the FBISD Board of Trustees. Twenty-six FBISD 11th grade students take part in the program through monthly seminars held throughout the school year designed to help them explore their personal roles in community leadership and service. FBISD Board Members individually sponsor and attend the monthly seminars on topics such as personal leadership skills, youth advocacy, service and volunteerism, local government in action, environmental awareness, and healthcare.

The program has a twofold purpose: (1) to allow students from across the district to come together to focus on developing their leadership skills, and (2) to give the Board a mechanism to interact with students from across the district so that they can better understand student needs.

The FBISD Student Leadership Program’s inaugural class members include the following 11th grade students from each FBISD high school: Perla Aparicio (Bush), Jerona Archie (Marshall), Stavinoha Bradley (Bush), Nikki Bhuchar (Clements), Waqaar Diwan (Kempner), Matthew Doan (Kempner), Traci A. Gibson (Hightower), Nick Ihek (Marshall), Kaitlyn Jones (Travis), Chandni Kaushik (Clements), Katie Kuhn (Clements), Delas Lancelin (Willowridge), Nicole Lansford (Travis), Muaro Loya (Progressive), Corinne Mason (Austin), Dexter McCoy (Travis), Alyssa Mercadel (Austin), Michelle Norman (Progressive), Ariadne Nwadiei (Willowridge), Vanessa Pena (Bush), Lindsey Ramirez (Kempner), Zack Raybourn (Elkins), Jaime Rivas (Marshall), Tessa Salomone (Dulles), Angela Song (Dulles), and Jonathan Williamson (Dulles).

Students selected for the program must be in good academic and behavioral standing; have an interest in developing their personal leadership skills; have obtained the written permission of their parents and school principal; and be willing to accept and meet all of the attendance expectations before submitting an application.

Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders in Classrooms Today! Fort Bend ISD introduces new student leadership program

Twenty-six Fort Bend ISD 11th grade students are learning to become community leaders through the FBISD Student Leadership Program, a new initiative introduced this school year. The leadership program will engage students in a series of six monthly seminars during the school year that will help them explore their personal roles in community leadership and service.

The idea to create the program originated from FBISD Board Members, who wanted to become more involved with students. Board Members will sponsor and attend the student seminars on topics such as personal leadership skills, youth advocacy, service and volunteerism, local government in action, environmental awareness, and healthcare.

“We came up with the idea and presented it to Superintendent Tim Jenney, who agreed that it would greatly benefit our students, having completed a similar program through Leadership Houston,” said Sonal Bhuchar, President of the FBISD Board of Trustees. Bhuchar said the program has a twofold purpose: (1) to allow students from across the district to come together to focus on developing their leadership skills, and (2) to give the Board a mechanism to interact with students from across the district so that they can better understand student needs.

The overall feeling among student participants is one of excitement and pride for being selected to participate in the first leadership class. Zack Raybourn, student representative from Elkins High School, expressed the sentiment of all the students. “I know without a doubt that this well-organized leadership program will provide us with every opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills we learn throughout our community. I am honored to be a part of this great initiative,” said Raybourn.

During their first monthly meeting in November, the students met at Clements High School and participated in a series of ROPES course activities, led by ROPES Course Facilitators Lynda Ruther and Jim Harton. The activities gave students the opportunity to get acquainted with each other, and to learn about their similar interests.

FBISD Board Member, David Reitz, joined the students in the day-long activities as the program sponsor. After introducing himself to the group, Reitz stressed the importance of developing personal leadership skills and reminded students of how those skills relate to various aspects of their lives. He also reminded the students that they will form friendships in the program that will prove beneficial later in life.

“This is a great opportunity for students to get to know their peers from across the district,” Reitz said. “Outside of the program, they will cross paths with each other at some point in time, whether at a district sporting event or later in college. By participating in the leadership program, they are learning that life extends beyond their individual campuses and communities, and that friendships can be made through many avenues.”

At the conclusion of their first seminar, leadership students received their first assignment from Olwen Herron, FBISD Chief Accountability and Organizational Development Officer. She distributed copies of the book, Strengths Finder, by Tom Roth to students and asked them to complete an online assessment from The Gallup Organization to discover their strengths.

Betty Ann Williams, Program Facilitator and PALS/Teen Leadership teacher at Fort Settlement Middle School, led students in a wrap-up session and gave them a preview of their upcoming meeting, which will include a visit to the City of Sugar Land City Hall.

“I am excited about this student leadership program and the tremendous opportunities it will afford our students,” said Williams. “This is a fine group of students who are eager to learn and grow in their roles as citizens in our society. As juniors, they are approaching a pivotal point in their lives where their decisions and actions will make a difference in our world. I couldn't be more proud to have a hand in preparing them for future success,” she said.

The group will meet once each month through April 2009. In May, The Board of Trustees will hold a special recognition ceremony for participants at its regular Business Meeting.