This summer, KO launched the inaugural student Leadership Institute led by co-directors of the Roberts Center for Leadership, Director of College Counseling Jami Silver, and Middle School history teacher Kelly Anstead. For three weeks, students participated in leadership programming that involved collaborating with local organizations, working on innovative projects, and ultimately developing better and more effective leadership skills that will benefit them beyond their campus experience.
The Leadership Institute was conceived and ultimately created as a result of the misuse of the Leadership Center in Seaverns. Over the years, the space had been used as a study spot and eventually a library during the construction of the Community Commons. A goal of some senior administrators was to find meaning and purpose in the space and explore its potential for students.
Co-Director of the Roberts Center for Leadership, Jami Silver, put it simply. “We wanted to pilot something this summer, and we wanted an opportunity for students to strengthen their leadership skills, work as a team,” she explained, “and identify the power that teens have in not only our community at KO, but the Greater Hartford Community as well.”
The three-week program consisted of projects designed to strengthen life on the KO campus, and the first week included building foundational leadership skills and team building. The KO core values were at the heart of this work, and students were pushed to reflect on what community means to them. Freshman Jeremiah Moyano shared his personal stance on leadership. “To me, being a leader means being a good role model for everyone around you as well as being a person that people are comfortable speaking to,” he said. In addition to building leadership skills, one of the main highlights for students was partnering with local organizations.
Throughout their time at the institute, students worked with nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity and Loaves and Fishes to learn about leadership as it pertains to work in the Greater Hartford area. Sophomore Julia Atanasio-Villa highlighted the impact of working with such organizations. “Loaves and Fishes is an organization that helps people with food insecurity,” Julia said. “It was very impactful to see how much I could help other people in my community in a short amount of time, as well as work to strengthen the organization’s mission.” This work also allowed students to look at leadership from a new perspective. “This opportunity allowed me to build on not only leadership, but empathy. Leaders are those who are empathetic and willing to help others no matter what.”
KO’s inaugural Leadership Institute was truly remarkable, bringing Upper School students together and expanding on a fundamental aspect of life at KO and beyond—special thanks to Ms. Silver and Ms. Anstead for their leadership in this excellent opportunity. We can’t wait to see what’s to come!
