Course Title: CAS Leadership

Teacher: Minassian

General Course Description:
This class is designed to take a youth empowerment approach to leadership that is consistent with the social justice mission of CAS.

Goals/Objectives:
We will consider four levels of leadership through a youth empowerment and social justice lens:

• Personal Leadership
• Classroom Community
• CAS Program Building
• General BHS/Outside Community Opportunities

Levels of leadership development are not mutually exclusive and will be woven throughout the curriculum.

Course content:

1. Empowerment and Social Justice- personal level- developing the leadership abilities of each student:
   1. Students develop a vision of what leadership is, what it means to be a leader for equity and social justice, and what s/he wants to accomplish
   2. Each student develops specific leadership skills (communication, facilitation, organizational, social, and media)
2. Empowerment and Social Justice- classroom level- developing a classroom environment that is emotionally safe, trusting, collaborative, participatory, democratic, and student-centered; developing the skills to work as a team:
   1. Agreements
   2. Check-ins/ Check-outs
   3. Ice Breakers, warm-up, energizers
   4. Team builders and group challenges
   5. Ropes courses/ Adventure curriculum
   6. Rotating facilitation roles in class
   7. Space for students to generate own projects
   8. Unlearning oppression curriculum
   9. Appreciations
   10. Theater Games
3. Empowerment and Social Justice- CAS level- developing a cadre of trained student facilitators who take leadership in building the CAS community and program:
   1. Leading processes with all CAS students including:
      • orientation activities
      • grade level retreats
      • Days of Respect to build alliances across differences
      • Wednesday activities (school assembly and advisory)
      • student support program
      • vertical families structure
      • student newsletter
      • student focus groups, surveys, and on-going program evaluation
      • discussion of CAS Values and Agreements documents
      • developing student government structure (CAS student officers, student sub-committees, student court)
      • organizing other community building activities (murals, birthday recognitions, field trips, bulletin boards, awards, and talent shows)
   2. Leadership class representing students in CAS school-wide bodies, activities, and events
      • Leadership Council
      • Speakers at CAS parent/community events
      • Coordinating CAS documentation project on developing of CAS as a small school (through CAS video and a photo journal)
4. Empowerment and Social Justice- BHS/outside community level -developing student leaders involved in making positive change at BHS and in the broader community and society.
   1. Serving as reps on BHS committees
   2. Presentation to the broader school community sharing CAS documentation
   3. Liaisons to other BHS small schools
   4. Community mapping- needs and resources
   5. Examine how individuals, organizations, and movements have provided leadership for social justice and social change
   6. Service-learning, internships, and social action projects generated by the leadership class
   7. Structured reflection activities on these projects
   8. Networking with other youth leadership organizations, conferences, and events

Grades/Credits:

• CAS Leadership is an approved elective and counts for one year (2 semesters) of elective credit.
• Class meeting times may vary, but students will commit to 3 meetings a week, one and a half hours each, beginning at 7am.
• Prompt and consistent attendance are keys to success
• Points are awarded for participating in class discussions, completing writing assignments, and participating in class and school leadership projects.

Instructional Materials:

Students will need a Leadership journal (Mead or Alco Composition book) along with a Three-ring, 1-1/2 inch Leadership binder with six dividers. They are also expected to have an ample supply of pens, pencils, and highlighters.

Suggestions for Independent work:

It is important to note the DEEP level of commitment that a student on CAS leadership will be expected to maintain. These students will be responsible for the birth and development of a youth empowered, social justice program, and must be willing, able, and passionate!!