Leadership, Ethics, & Development 2.0

Four years have passed since Derryfield first launched its new academic program. Included in that launch was the school’s move to introduce a program that would expose students in grades six through twelve to curricula that fosters and cultivates leadership, ethical decision making, and the development of health and well being. As with any new program, these past four years have given students and faculty alike the opportunity to teach and live the Leadership, Ethics, and Development (LEAD) program, assess its efficacy, and propose meaningful changes and improvements. Fortunately for us, Courtney Cheetham, Director of Wellness and LEAD Curriculum Department Chair, along with a group of Upper School students on her LEAD Advisory Board, are energized by this work.

Key to the LEAD program’s success is its intentionality. The curriculum across all grade levels is inextricably linked building on themes covered in earlier years. For example, in sixth grade, students focus on “Understanding the Community,” which includes an introduction to the Derryfield community, understanding the role they play as students, and developing critical skills around building friendships, self regulation, and conflict resolution. In seventh grade, students are then asked to consider the concept of “Working Together in the Community;” they know how to build these relationships, but how can they proactively maintain them? How do they effectively work as a team when navigating challenges?

The same approach applies in the Upper School. In the fall of ninth grade, students are introduced to the concept that “Everyone is a leader,” and delve into the topics of leadership traits, inclusivity, equity, and ethical decision making. In the spring of tenth grade, they are asked to consider these topics within the social conditions of driving, dating, and these newfound teenage “freedoms.”

When asked how LEAD differs from a traditional health curriculum, Courtney is quick in her reply: “Health teaches in isolation. Through LEAD, we’re able to examine the brain, the body, and the soul, and how they’re interconnected; how they manifest within ourselves, our peers, and our greater community.” Allowing students to apply the teachings of LEAD directly to the unique contexts of their daily lives helps to build buy-in, as well.