A reintroduced leadership program is being proposed at the Lehighton Area Elementary Center with the goal of fostering confidence, problem-solving and social skills among students at an earlier age.

“This idea first came about two or three years ago,” Dr. Mark McGalla said of the program. “At the time, I remember having a group of 30 or 40 kids interested in it. What I learned in that year was just how important this type of program could be.”

McGalla said the goal is to give every student an opportunity to grow as a leader with the support of an adviser, while keeping the experience student-centered.

“Confidence, leadership, problem-solving and social skills are crucial for success, and we need to start earlier,” he said. “We want every student to have this opportunity.”

In the past, students who wanted to participate wrote a 100-word essay explaining why they wanted to be involved. McGalla said about 45 to 50 students submitted essays.

“They did the work, and their responses were great,” he said. “So they became part of the program. We met throughout the school year and did leadership activities.”

The new program would build on that model, offering students opportunities such as greeting visitors during parent-teacher conferences, helping with new student orientations, planning school events and leading morning announcements. Other activities could include public speaking, serving as peer buddies for younger students and taking part in service projects.

“They’ll learn listening and teamwork, and how to resolve conflicts,” McGalla said. “There’s no reason a fifth grader can’t help a second grader. They know what’s going on and they can help. At the end, students will reflect on what they’ve learned. They’re not going to be perfect. They’ll make mistakes, but that’s how we learn.”

McGalla said participation will not be limited.

“I want every student to have an opportunity,” he said. “I’m not going to be selecting students, and teachers won’t be selecting them. If students want to be part of it, they will be part of it, and we’ll make it work.”

Groups of 15 to 20 students would take part in activities throughout the school day, with some events possibly scheduled outside of regular hours. McGalla emphasized the importance of making the program accessible to all students.

“I don’t want a student to miss out just because they don’t have a ride to school after hours,” he said.

The program also has the potential to give students a break from routine.

“Imagine being a student who goes from class to class every day, sitting down and doing what you’re told. It’s not fun,” McGalla said. “We need to make school more engaging, not just in the classroom but in day-to-day operations. Programs like this can do that.”

McGalla said the ultimate goal is to prepare students with skills that will help them long after they leave the Elementary Center.

“You can look something up on AI and get an answer,” he said. “But if you can’t stand up and present it to people, that’s a different skill set. That’s what we need to cultivate with our students.

“I think we have awesome kids and an awesome community, and this program will give them so much.”