Developing leadership skills - Edwards County Community USD 1

School Administrator, March, 2003

The Civic Star Award for a school-community program in Illinois goes to Edwards County Community USD 1. The program was created at Edwards County High School when the school administration saw a need to improve student leadership skills within the student body.

A group called S.A.L.L. (Students Active in Leadership) was organized in the fall of 1998 with the mission of learning leadership skills to improve the community, school and the image of youth. The group collaborates with community partners to achieve its mission. Partners include local businesses, the county government, local chamber of commerce, judges of the Illinois Second Judicial Circuit and the Illinois Rural Health Association.

Major projects completed by the group include organizing a Safe School Seminar for 21 high schools following the Columbine shootings. The group collaborated with the Second Judicial Circuit to produce the seminar. Teams from 21 schools attended and were taught how to return to their schools and assess safety measures in place and take any concerns to their school administrators.

The second major project, underwritten by the Illinois Rural Health Association and the Illinois Human Resources Department, was a seminar on how to advocate for change constructively within a community. The students chose a state-funded insurance program called Kid Care as a focus for advocating change. They learned how to return to their communities and encourage people who were eligible to enroll to get coverage.

As a result of the group's involvement with the safe schools seminar, it was awarded the Illinois Rural Health Association President's Citation Award.

S.A.I.L.'s next big project is planned as a seminar on tee addictive behavior.

The plan for the seminar is based on a needs assessment conducted by a local physician's assistant. S.A.I.L expects to involve local and state law enforcement, the Southern Illinois University Medical School and local hospitals. The focus is expected to be on tobacco use.

TO LEARN MORE CONTACT:

Robert W. Brutcher, Superintendent

Edwards County Community USD 1 106 W. Main St. Albion, IL 62806

Phone: 618-445-2814

E-mail: rbrutcher@wworld.com

Web: www.echs.edwrds.k12.il.us