From the desk of Michelle Rozell, High School Principal:

The Buzzword for education is Leadership! Twenty-first century learners will be expected to exhibit a set of qualities all of which poise them for leadership.

This week, Brook Hill students had the opportunity to experience hands-on and in-person training at the 2015 Emerging Leaders Conference sponsored by the Center for Ethics at the University of Texas at Tyler. Derek Hubbard, student leader in an East Texas high school and SMU, Class of 2012, Student Regent was the keynote speaker.  He is the recipient of the Hunt Leadership Scholar and the “M” Award, a most highly prized recognition and honor which celebrates someone who “gives unselfishly of their time and talents in order to make SMU a better place.” Hubbard challenged the students to “Do the right thing-always!” What might sound simple had a most profound message to today’s young people as Hubbard attempted to encourage students from all over East Texas that they were already equipped and had the ability to make a difference in the world around them.

The conference agenda emphasized foundational skills such as developing a sense of respect for self and others, cultural sensitivity, and servant leadership. Students were encouraged to collaborate with their peers and plan projects together that would meet this criteria for leadership. Students from Brook Hill who were escorted by Upper School Principal, Michelle Rozell, were juniors, Alex Ellis, Autumn Lundy, Jessica Kim, Alyssa Duplichain, and Nancy Umuhoza Nshuti. These emerging leaders were challenged by Hubbard to “stop talking and make something happen,” which was his personal edit on this year’s conference theme, Make Something Happen! Hubbard had a very powerful message to our Brook Hill juniors as well as their counterparts from other schools to step up, lead positively, and choose to make a difference.  Rozell agrees with Hubbard that for students in today’s culture, it will take an intentional choice to be a great leader. The Brook Hill School is on mission to develop our emerging leaders and was very grateful for the opportunity to participate in this great event.