How would you answer this interview question: Why is it important for your program to develop student leadership?
It is essential that the response you give to the job interview question is truthful, relevant to the position, and shows value to the school district. The following could be a possible answer. Or it may provide some ideas for you to tailor your response:
Benefits of Developing Student Leadership
Teaching students about leadership benefits both the individual student and the school community as a whole. The development of influence and authority helps promote cohesiveness, strengthens school spirit, provides students with key life and career skills, and fosters an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
By helping students develop fundamental leadership skills, instructors and administrators can adequately prepare students for higher education levels, their careers, instill a passion for work and contributing, and ensure that they can succeed in the real world.
There are many different ways that a program can include student leadership. These include student council leaders, advisory-based leadership programs, school volunteer/extra-curricular initiatives, cross-grade leadership, teacher-selected students, and leadership classes linked to another class such as physical education or career and personal planning. It is essential to recognize students’ achievements, but don’t go overboard with praise.
One of the greatest benefits of fostering students’ leadership in an educational program is getting students to serve others while teaching them to influence and motivate others effectively. This can be accomplished when students work in inclusion groups or teams that create and take advantage of opportunities to act as servant leaders. Allow the students to have a voice in activities and events.
Lastly, it is important to develop student skills because these activities can empower students. For this program to be significant, greater student participation and student self-determination should be striven for.
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