Leadership Academy Challenges Students to Grow, Lead and Inspire

The Leadership Academy includes four sequential phases, beginning with Phase I for incoming freshmen and culminating in Phase IV for rising seniors. Each phase builds on the last, combining interactive activities, real-world experiences and college-level theory to help students both understand and apply leadership principles.

“This experience offers students a unique opportunity to get exposed to leadership ideals that they may not have engaged with before,” said teacher facilitator Dawn Mostowy.

Students in Phase I engaged in self-reflection and interactive leadership scenarios centered on the core philosophy: Who you are is how you lead. Key themes included risk-taking, integrity, openness and effective communication. One highlight was a field trip to Camp Guyasuta, where students challenged themselves on a high ropes course and zipline.

“I enjoyed seeing growth in each student as they got out of their comfort zones, supported one another, and had a lot of fun,” Mrs. Mostowy said.

Phase II focused on servant, visionary and relational leadership styles. Students visited The Education Partnership, a local nonprofit, where they assembled backpacks, wrote thank-you notes and organized supplies for underfunded schools. Other activities included designing a community mini golf course in collaboration with the Upper St. Clair Township Library and navigating team-based escape rooms.

In Phase III, students enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh’s College in High School (CHS) course, “Theories of Leadership.” This six-week class explored leadership ethics and theory while offering students the opportunity to earn both a grade and Honors weight. In-person discussions were supplemented with weekly readings and reflections. Dr. Steve Torquato served as the liaison between Upper St. Clair and the university.

Phase IV offered a capstone experience for rising seniors, who co-created curriculum and facilitated Leadership Academy sessions for their peers. Students completed more than 10 hours of preparation in advance, reviewing lesson plans and learning instructional strategies. They then independently led discussions, taught content, and adjusted on the fly when needed – gaining valuable experience in leadership, communication, and problem-solving.

Teachers who facilitated this year’s program included Chad Ebrecht, Ben Edwards, Lexi Ostrowski, Chris Watkinson, Jake Reis, Dawn Mostowy, Laura Carlino, and Steve Torquato. Miranda Jasper served as Lead Teacher Facilitator, overseeing all four phases, coordinating field trips, and recruiting guest speakers.

Dr. Dan Beck, assistant principal, provided administrative oversight for the program.