Leadership classes from the four comprehensive schools in the district convened in the CPAC to discuss how to lead and make new connections on Friday December 2nd.

Senior Nicole Forbes, a leadership student in Dino Petrocco’s class and the School Board representative for the four AUHSD high schools, organized the day’s events, which included students and teachers from Miramonte, Acalanes, and Las Lomas as well as Campo.  The purpose of the conference was to discuss the role of leadership, the function of a leader, and to exchange leadership ideas.

The conference commenced at 8 a.m. with a welcome by AUHSD Superintendent John Nickerson, who encouraged the students to pursue their aspirations.  Keynote speaker Keith Hawkins spoke about how to view oneself as a leader, defining leadership as “the ability to get others to follow.”

The day’s agenda included group break-out sessions.  According to Forbes, students shared ideas about school spirit, publicity, and how to get students more involved in their schools.  “Meeting new friends and building camaraderie were additional benefits from this conference,” added Forbes.

Senior class secretary Brooke Standring especially appreciated the opportunities that the conference provided to collaborate and share ideas with leadership students throughout the district.  The highlight for Standring was “learning how to be a leader with charisma, enthusiasm, a good work ethic, and by approaching people with a kind heart.”

The conference ended at 1:45 p.m. with the plan to meet again next year.  According to Petrocco, “the day was successful overall and will be an annual event.”  Petrocco said that he hopes the students take what they learned from the conference to their classrooms to build new leadership ideas into their second semester classes.