Fort Couch Students Build Leadership Skills Through Service

Fort Couch Middle School's annual Leadership Academy took place July 20–24, 2026. Throughout the week, students participated in both individual and collaborative experiences that encouraged them to explore, define and demonstrate what effective leadership means to them.

The academy was led by Fort Couch teachers Mike DaVia, Eliza Luxbacher and Erin Bruce, who guided students through activities centered on teamwork, communication, reflection, and problem-solving. These experiences helped students recognize and apply leadership skills in meaningful ways.

This year's Leadership Academy partnered with the South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) and the Washington & Jefferson College Center for Energy & The Built Environment, giving students opportunities to serve their community through hands-on projects.

"As a leadership teaching team, we believe that service-learning provides students with powerful opportunities to see how their individual and collective actions can make a lasting difference," Mr. DaVia said. "Both partnerships allowed students to put leadership principles into practice through authentic and real-world experiences."

Working alongside the Center for Energy & The Built Environment, students sorted supplies and assembled donation bags filled with energy-efficient household items for families served by a community center in Washington, Pennsylvania. At SHIM, students helped maintain and beautify Gilfillan Farm’s campus in collaboration with the Upper St. Clair High School Leadership Academy. This experience allowed students to connect with high school peers through a shared service-learning opportunity. 

"We believe students learn best by actively engaging in meaningful work and collaborating with others," Ms. Luxbacher said. "We hope that they leave the week with a deeper understanding of their own strengths and recognize how they can work together to create positive change in both their local community and beyond."

Throughout the week, students explored the academy's core leadership values: teamwork, productivity, openness, integrity, honesty, excellence, courage, risk-taking, commitment and reflection.

"Our goal is for students to recognize, define, and embody these core leadership qualities," Mr. DaVia said. "By doing so, they strengthen not only their leadership abilities but also their academic success and social-emotional growth."

Established in 2010, Upper St. Clair's Leadership Academy provides middle and high school students with opportunities to develop leadership skills through service, collaboration and self-reflection. The nationally recognized program received a Magna Award from the American School Board Journal, published by the National School Boards Association, in 2013.