Leadership Brochure - Suffield Academy

Leadership is not a
singular skill or ability,
nor is it solely innate.
The initial focus of the Suffield Academy Leadership
Program is on skill-building. We then turn the focus
to distance traveled, and finally we emphasize the
importance of having a significant and positive
impact on society.
Students in grades 9-11 take required year long
leadership courses and the curriculum emphasizes
experiental learning and guided self-discovery.
The leadership experience at Suffield concludes in
the 12th grade, where every senior holds at least
one leadership position.
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“A good leader needs to understand the limits of everything. In doing this,
they will be better able to make good decisions, which is the core of leadership.”
-Director of the Leadership Program, David Rockwell ‘58
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“Everyone has the potential to be a leader. Our goal is to
help each student develop the skills and habits
that will make them productive, focused, and
confident young adults.”
-Headmaster Charlie Cahn
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core elements
of leadership
Life Skills
Moral Foundation
Goal-setting
Communication
Problem-solving
Self-awareness
Inspiring Others
Mission
The aim of the Leadership Program is to develop human beings with integrity who wish
to make a significant and postive impact on society. Our graduates will have the capacity
to define and achieve meaningful goals and dreams. We will teach ways of thinking and
develop skills, traits, and habits in order to enhance each student’s leadership qualities
and capabilities.

“Everyone has a strength. It’s about building on those strengths and developing the
core leadership qualities that anyone can possess. With a strong foundation, Suffield students
go on to discover that they can do things they never thought possible.” -Jeff McElnea ’67
Core LeadershiP: 9th grade
A Crash Course in Surviving High School:
Class discussions in the first weeks focus on life at Suffield, living with roommates, getting homework
done, managing your time, understanding your own personal goals, dealing with stress, resolving
conflicts, and talking about sex and drugs.
In the final weeks, you work on communicating. You practice speaking in public, taking a
position and defending it with confidence, and listening. All of this is designed to help you
overcome your fear of speaking in front of others. It is our belief that public speaking and
comunication skills are cornerstones of leadership. You will be confident in these areas by the
time you graduate from Suffield.
“The Leadership Program
takes you out of your comfort
zone. It’s a great way to
meet people. I still remember
my first day at Suffield. My
leadership class consisted
of a group of eight people.
The teacher and the TA’s put
blindfolds on all of us and
we had to find our way to the
snack bar without talking
or touching each other. It
seemed kind of random at
the time but slowly I saw that
what we were learning in the
Leadership Program applied
to real-life activities. Before I
came to Suffield I was never
a leader. While at Suffield I
held several positions and
I went on to Elon University
to minor in leadership. I
enjoy leadership. I can see a
direct correlation each day in
everything I do.
-Danton Kerz ’08, Elon University
Leading in the 9th grade:
High school can be a difficult time—adjusting to a new environment, meeting new expectations,
living with new people. This is why the first weeks of leadership are dedicated to setting you up for
success at Suffield and beyond.

Service Leadership:
10th Grade
When David Holmes ’60 wrote about “the
leadership of the good person,” he was talking
about the student who strives to be truthful and
honest, does the right thing when no one is
looking, and has the courage to say “no” even
when it’s unpopular to do so. It’s the kind of
leadership marked by character and open to
every individual. The kind Holmes believed “is
often invisible and unsung, but it is immensely
important. It holds families, schools, and
communities together.”
Today, Headmaster Charlie Cahn speaks
often with students about being considerate,
engaged citizens. He continuously emphasizes
the fact that the Leadership Program focuses on
learning positive habits.
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“Suffield Academy sets a positive example of innovative leadership
through our community-wide fundraiser, the dance-a-thon. Each
year we try to tie the recipient of the dance-a-thon to our school-wide
theme. Students nominate worthy charities and then the student body
votes to select one. One year I nominated HARC and it was selected.
We successfully raised almost $50,000 along with awareness of
the needs of HARC’s citizens; this marked the beginning of a long
relationship between Suffield Academy and HARC. Suffield students
and faculty participated in the HARC walk-a-thon. It was so rewarding
to see something that was my idea make such a significant
impact. Being a part of the Leadership Program definitely helped
me accomplish this.” -Cordelia Brady ’09
Leading in the 10th grade: Service becomes
the focus in the sophomore year. Every student
takes part in a service project. You might
mentor fifth-graders at a local elementary
school, clean up a town park, or spend time
with the elderly at an area nursing home. At
the end of the year, you help lead the 9th-grade
class in their own service projects.
“Equally important to the welfare of our school
community is a less conspicuous, less celebrated form of leadership.
It is the leadership of the good citizen. It is the leadership of
the good person.” -From a 1999 newsletter by David Holmes ’60, former Headmaster 1991-2003

“Our concern for the environment led us to establish an award for students who show a
commitment to using less energy.” -Dave and Janet Leishman P’09, ’11, The Leishman Family Energy Conservation Award
Future Leadership: 11th Grade
Leading in the 11th grade:
College and the environment are the major components of leadership in the eleventh grade. The
curriculum centers on enhancing skills necessary for success in the college admissions process.
Components include resume building, effective interview and self-advocacy techniques, and
preparing for standardized admissions tests.
Another major highlight of the junior year curriculum is environmental stewardship. Environmental
efforts at Suffield Academy are woven throughout everyday life. They range from infrastructure
initiatives and course offerings to school awards and projects. Suffield’s junior leadership students
have led they way in environmental initiatives on campus. They were instrumental in getting the
school to use everything from reuseable mugs in the dining hall to biodeisel in the lawnmowers.
I recently went on a two-week trip that
emphasized student leadership. I felt that
because of my leadership experience at
Suffield, I was more prepared and more
willing to take the lead in situations that
arose. I felt confident enough to speak to
the group as a whole, to lead effectively,
and to make decisions when others in
my group didn’t know how or when to be
assertive. I didn’t realize how fortunate
I was to be part of this program until I
was around others who didn’t have this
opportunity; the Suffield Leadership
Program works and it works well. The
time management skills have helped
me prioritize things and stay organized
when others are getting caught up in the
freedom of college. I am getting involved
with student organizations, and my
preparation at Suffield has inspired me to
take good risks and meet new people.”
-Mike DiPietro ’07, Trinity College ’11

There are currently 16
faculty members advising
the following student
organizations. They mentor
the 12th grade leaders
throughout their senior
year, and thus serve as
leadership teachers.
“This all fell into place for me my senior year when I realized that at Suffield Academy we
are large enough that we have a diverse community and small enough that we all know each
other. I realized that the Leadership Program taught me that leadership cannot be defined
as one thing; it is something different to each student and in each experience. Students at
Suffield have the opportunity to make changes.” -Abby Schuster ‘08
Amnesty International
The Bell
Chapel Committee
Dance-a-thon Committee
Discipline Committee
Gay-Straight Alliance
Head Waiters
Leadership TAs
Peer Tutor Leaders
Pioneer editors
Proctors
PGs
SOLO
Student Government
Team Captains
Tour Guide Leaders
TREE
Work Program Inspectors
Writing Center Leaders
Senior Leadership Roles: 12th Grade
Leading in the 12th grade: provides each Suffield senior
with a formal leadership experience. Roles include dorm
proctors, teaching assistants, tour guide leaders, peer
tutors, writing center leaders, student newspaper and
yearbook editors, chapel committee members, dining hall
head waiters, and work program inspectors. In addition,
there is a senior seminar series with topics including
philanthropy and volunteerism, environmental issues and
realities, and financial management.
Chair of the Leadership Department and veteran faculty
member Dave Rockwell ’58 is working at improving and
enhancing the Leadership Program. “I pride myself on
being a student of learning,” says Rocky. “I am constantly
thinking about more effective ways I can reach kids.”
Making a difference is what Rocky is known for. He has
impacted the lives of thousands of Suffield students and
continues to make a difference with each new class. “I
have Mr. Rockwell and he has been here forever so he has
so many life experiences to share with us. He is more than
a teacher.” Katrina Smtih ’08

Curriculum Highlights
9th grade: foundations of leadership
Orientation to Suffield and high school:
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Ice breakers: interactive games
Community values and expectations: Student Handbook, major
school rules, etc.
Life Skills:
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Goal setting: vision—task cycle
Time management
Self awareness, personal identity
Personal mentors, role models
Moral foundation: values, honor, ethical decision making
Communication skills: public speaking, active listening
Prejudice and stereotypes; understanding differences
Health and sexuality
Information literacy
Teamwork and group dynamics
Climbing wall, low ropes course
10th grade: preparing for the future
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Ice breakers and major school rules
Review life skills
Sex-ed
Media literacy
College counseling part 1: PSAT and PLAN tests
Self-awareness: multiple intelligence theory, learning styles inventory
Group dynamics
Ethical scenarios and case studies
Communication skills
Service and servant leadership—social needs and issues
Off-campus service learning projects—plan in winter, complete during
entire spring term
11th grade: Preparing for the Future
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Ice breakers
Group dynamics
Feedback: giving and receiving I-messages
Emotional Intelligence: theory, inventory
Leadership styles—situational leadership: case studies
Final presentation
Self as leader: apply for 12th grade leadership positions
SAT prep
College counseling 101 (resume building, college visit planning, mock interviews)
On-campus environmental project

who will
you become?
what will you discover about yourself
when you have the chance
to lead?
what abilities will you find
within yourself
when you are challenged?
how far will you go to
determine your strengths?