SUA Leadership Program

SUA Leadership Program SUA Leadership Program At St. Ursula Academy, leadership, an Ursuline Core Value, has always been integral to our mission to prepare young women for college and for a life of meaning. Its value and impact in the SUA community cannot be overstated. Leadership in SUA students and our graduates is real and concrete, and yet intangible and subtle. But people know it when they see it, and they see it in our Arrows. And now, through the addition of the SUA Leadership Program, our students, faculty and staff, parents, and administrators will benefit in innumerable ways from the enhanced curriculum and opportunities that only this school—and this program—can deliver. Your web browser does not support the <video> tag. Inquire Visit The Perfect Fit for SUA Building on SUA’s long history and foundation of developing young women as leaders, in Spring 2021, President Mary Werner and former principal Nichole Flores, who passed away in 2024, announced SUA’s selection as the first school in the nation to provide a four-year, applied neuroscience- and evidence-based leadership curriculum for high school girls taught during the academic school day. Advised by some of the world’s top thought leaders in coaching and leader development, The Leadership Program has received international recognition as a “leadership and management idea with the potential to change the world.” (Thinkers50 Radar List 2022). The SUA Leadership Program is a nine-week, required course for every high school student. The curriculum is delivered within a best-practice leadership development framework that innovatively engages both faculty, as certified in-school Leadership Coaches, and students, as learners and peer leaders. Every type of leader—the quiet girl in the back with creative ideas, the organizer, the collaborator, the courageous speaker—will enhance her skills, grow beyond her expectations, and find the tools she needs to be a life-long leader— in her own style —in her career, family, and community. The Class of 2025 is the first group of Arrows to complete all four years of the Leadership Program at SUA. In addition to their diplomas, they also received Leadership Certificates to signify this accomplishment. These certificates are a testament to their dedication, growth, and readiness to lead in whatever comes next. The program was developed in partnership with girls’ leadership experts from the following institutions: Year 1: The Foundations of Self-Leadership Year 2: Applied Self-Leadership Year 3: Leading with Courage and Confidence Year 4: Leading Change through Service Learning In Leadership I: The Foundations of Self-Leadership, students understand “the first person you must lead is yourself.” With a focus on Character-Based Leadership, students learn core leadership principles and practices that equip them to discover who they are and can be as leaders—now and in the future. Students learn to identify and use their character strengths, develop collaboration and teamwork skills, cultivate a growth mindset, create a personal vision and goals for their future and build the strong self-leadership skills that are essential for succeeding now, in college, and beyond. In Leadership II: Applied Self-Leadership, students prepare to lead a life of purpose by exploring their unique role to make a positive difference in the world. Students discover their core values, gain a deeper awareness of their personal strengths and skills, develop a stronger sense of purpose, and create and communicate a values-aligned leadership vision on how they wish to positively impact the world. Students also serve as Peer Leadership Coaches, learning powerful peer-leadership skill sets, while supporting peers with goal achievement, self-awareness, and self-directed learning. Classroom sessions build on the Foundations of Self-Leadership. In Leadership III: Leading with Courage and Confidence, students collaboratively learn science-based strategies to grow confidence, cultivate courage, increase emotional agility, and develop grit and resilience. By understanding and applying the science of confidence, students can overcome self-doubt, rise above challenges, achieve their goals, and authentically lead—both themselves and others—with confidence. Each student also practices and develops advanced peer leadership skill sets and responsibilities through serving as a Peer Educator and in the special and rewarding role as a Peer Leadership Coach for a Junior Academy student. In Leadership IV: Leading Change Through Service Learning, students understand their capability and responsibility as leaders who make a difference in our global society. Leveraging the proven power of project- based, experiential learning, students develop and lead a Service Learning Project. Students learn and integrate project management and design thinking skills along with their previous course skills to design, plan, and complete student-led and team-driven projects that create positive impacts in their school and community. Students also gain valuable college and career readiness skills as they prepare for life beyond high school and a bright future ahead. Inquire Visit Student Leaders Grew in Confidence and Purpose “I have learned that anyone and everyone can be a leader, whether they are standing in the corner or right under the spotlight. I will incorporate the lessons I learned into my daily life—in my tennis playing, in my performances and rehearsals, in my relationships with family and friends, and in my academics.” Madison Repass ’25 “I loved getting to know my classmates! We did many engaging activities where we got to talk to each other, work together, and say positive things about one another. This class helped me build strong bonds and form friendships.” Audrey Vendemo ’25 “After completing the course, I found that I was far more confident and aware of my self-worth. I now approach every challenge with confidence and an open mindset to overcome it.” Lily Eberly ’25 “I learned how to use my strengths as a leader, and it has changed my confidence to lead—even in a quiet manner.” Grace Spenthoff ’25 “The leadership class focused on so many aspects of my life, including building my confidence in public speaking. I can already tell that this course has improved my public speaking exponentially.” Ashley Wagner ’25 To learn more about the impact of evidence-based leadership development for girls, SUA's collaboration with Julie Carrier—a global authority on leadership development for young women—and the distinguished leadership development experts who advise The Leadership Course curriculum at SUA, please visit the link below. THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE FOR YOUNG WOMEN