Growing Leaders: LAC-O Student Leadership Conference

Creating Change: Building Community for All…

The Fourth Annual Student Leadership Conference on May 1, 2013 on the campus of Oakland University is designed to give teams of sophomores and juniors from every Oakland County high school the leadership skills to inspire change and influence their peers.

“Taking on Social Justice in Our Schools”, “Building Leaders for the Future – That’s YOU!” and “Leading Courageous Conversations” are a few of the workshop sessions students can choose to attend; exploring and collaborating on social solutions for both high school and the greater community is a key conference theme, and students are empowered with practical knowledge to engage teens and develop action plans.

“Students leave the conference with a better understanding of their contribution to leadership within their high schools; they learn that how they act and behave really matters,” said Larry Thomas, Executive Director of School Quality at Oakland Schools.

“It is Possible!” ~ Dr. Terrance L. Green

Motivational Speaker Dr. Terrance L. Green, a Detroit native, will speak to student attendees on “Creating Change: the Leaders of a New Generation”, and to Oakland County high school principals and educators on “Leadership for Academic Excellence, Equity and Inclusivity”. The African American Parent Association has planned a Wednesday evening event, where Mr. Green will discuss “Parental Advocacy to Advance Student Achievement and Engagement”.

The annual conference is sponsored by the Learning Achievement Coalition – Oakland (LAC-O), a collaboration between the twenty-eight school districts in Oakland County Michigan, Oakland Schools (Intermediate School District), Oakland University and the University of Michigan. The organization is dedicated to improving achievement for all students, especially students of color, students from poverty and non-traditional learners.

Students in General Session

“We’ve had terrific participation from superintendents of all 28 school districts in Oakland County,” commented Dr. C. Robert Maxfield, Educational Leadership at Oakland University. “The conference is a big deal; we are working on closing the achievement gap so that all students are able to successfully continue their education.”

The Student Leadership Conference, “Creating Change: Building Community for All” is an extension of LAC-O’s literacy and mathematics goals, with an emphasis on reinforcing academics through positive student engagement.

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VIEW UPDATE: 2013 LAC-O Student Leadership Conference a Success! Oakland County HS students gain strategies http://ow.ly/kEngZ

RESOURCES

Learning Achievement Coalition-Oakland: Uniting Students and Parents as Leaders and Contributors to Closing Gaps in Learning Volume 16, Fall 2010, By C. Robert Maxfield, Larry Thomas and Ida Turpin

Achievement Gap Resources – NEA

10 ways to Pump Up the Volume on Student Leadership By Linda Yaron

3 Ideas to Inspire Change By George Couros

The Real problem in Education: the ‘Opportunity Gap’ By Kevin Welner, Director of NEPC