The Future of Leadership in Mr. Healy’s 6th Grade Class

"What's your favorite class at school, Joseph?" He's 12 years old and in 6th grade.

Author Renée Smith with her grandson Joseph

"Leadership, Grandma Née."

"That's awesome! Tell me about Leadership class."

"Well, we are learning about the traits of a leader. Our teacher Mr. Healy gave us this sentence to remember them: 'Pink kittens have red sox for Halloween costumes.' The letters of each word are to remind us of the leadership traits."

"Pink Kittens Have Red Sox For Halloween Costumes?"

"Yep!"

"OK, I'm super curious now - what do those stand for??!!"

"Patience, Kindness, Honesty, Respect, Selflessness, Forgiveness, Humility, Commitment."

"That is a fantastic list! I LOVE that list!"

"And then we each answered some questions about ourselves to find out which ones we are strong in and which ones we need to work on. I'm strong on Honesty and Commitment but I need to work on Patience and Humility."

"Wow, those are really important insights Joe. I'm really impressed with your reflection, and I'm grateful Mr. Healy is teaching you about leadership like this. I teach grownups about leadership. And these are the same qualities we are trying to help them learn AFTER they are already leaders. But when most grownups were in 6th grade these weren't the traits they were taught. Not by example. Not in class. What you are learning is really important..."

I’ve been thinking about this ever since Joe and I talked. When I was in leadership class we learned some of these traits...respect, honesty and commitment for example, along with being visionary, confident, trustworthy, having integrity. But patience, kindness, forgiveness and humility were NOT on any lists I recall.

Now we know more about human behavior, motivation, and the ubiquity of trauma. We know how leaders can work WITH human neurophysiology and not against it, how to trigger engagement and not withdrawal. We know how to make work experiences better for people and better in terms of outcomes we are working to achieve.

We adults have a lot of unlearning and relearning to do. And often people tell me we really need to reach children and young people in schools to have them learn and experience a different model of leadership, a more human-centered way of leading.

I couldn't agree more. And I am happy to share that in Mr. Healy's Sixth Grade class Joseph and his classmates are learning how to make leadership more human.

What do you think we should be teaching young people about leadership? And how do you think it should be taught?

UPDATE: Mr. Ryan Healy was named a regional teacher of the year in 2019 in part because he, "knows that empathy, curiosity, generosity and emotional intelligence are as important to student success as academics."

I’m thrilled that this man is my grandson’s teacher. Here's to all the teachers' like Mr. Healy who are helping our children develop to be whole, healthy, loving people and leaders.

Educators have had an incredibly tough job continuing their important work in the last two years. Please thank an educator today and let them know you see all they are doing and value and appreciate them!!