On Easter Sunday, Christians worldwide celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which represents triumph over sin and death while providing an opportunity for eternal life.
For believers, the decision to follow Christ represents getting a second chance – a rebooting if you will – by leaving a life marked with sin to follow a better and more joyful path.
Whether one is a Christ follower or not (and our nation is very diverse), it’s always best to follow a righteous path early in life, and that starts in the home with strong parental guidance.
Schools and education also have a strong influence on an individual’s development. It is imperative that character development be taught, as unfortunately sometimes this does not happen in the home.
We are lucky to live in a community whose school system values character education. Boerne ISD teaches leadership and character skills in multiple ways, attempting to reflect the values of our community. We have many examples.
Leader Steps is a collaborative program between the business community and BISD where high school seniors are taught essential elements of leadership as well as practical steps in developing one’s career aspirations.
Superintendent of Schools Thomas Price formed a Student Advisory Council of about 30 students, designed to inform student leaders from both high school campuses of the district’s goals, while also seeking their input to solve problems. These students learn how to be impactful citizens in being part of the solution to address district wide problems.
BISD’s Career and Technical Education programs include a variety of educational pathways for high school students to choose from should they aspire to pursue college, career or military ready opportunities upon graduating from high school. One example is an entrepreneurship class that includes a business incubator, where students are required to research a consumer problem and develop a product and business to meet that challenge. Sometimes students succeed, and sometimes they initially face a setback. They learn that when things fall short, you pick yourself up and keep working until you reach your objective.
This process reflects many of the character traits taught in Boerne schools that will help students succeed in life – including perseverance, resilience, commitment, collaboration and teamwork. These are skills that employers nationwide have said are paramount to success in the business world.
While it is essential for students to strive for academic excellence, it is also important that they feel as if they are part of something larger than themselves. Fortunately, over 85 percent of secondary students are involved in an extra-curricular activity, where the aforementioned character traits are essential to success.
As people have no doubt learned by reading The Boerne Star, BISD students have received many accolades in areas such as sports, fine arts and much more. This is a reflection of a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment. It is also a reflection of great teachers and coaches as well as a supportive community.
Additional sources of character development are seen in the JROTC program, in which over 130 high school students participate. They take courses in leadership and many other practical subjects. A student-led Fellowship of Christian Athletes has chapters in each of our secondary campuses in which about 200 students meet weekly.
The Student Athletic Leadership Council, led by Athletic Director Stan Leech, meets monthly to receive leadership training developed by former NFL athlete and author Stephen Mackey, whose programs on character development are also included in elementary school physical education classes.
One other note of pride is the collaboration between BISD and the local Bruno Phillip Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 688. VFW holds an annual Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy contest. About 10 percent of all contestants statewide come from Boerne ISD, and many of our students have gone on to statewide and national competitions.
Boerne’s active and popular Future Farmers of America (FFA) program teaches leadership, personal responsibility and promotes citizenship, volunteerism, patriotism and much more.
It is essential that upon graduating from high school students are prepared to enter the next phase of their lives. A key component of that is a strong character that knows the difference between right and wrong.
Over the years I have had the opportunity to meet many of our students and feel confident that our community and nation will be in good hands as this current generation grows into becoming leaders. They are our future, and it is vital we work together to help them develop to their fullest potential. Our nation will be the beneficiary of our success.
Rich Sena is a local Republican.
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