Empowering Student Leadership at Shanghai American School
SAS is working with Inspire Citizens to help students build sustainable and effective leadership capacity in students. (image: SAS MARCOM)
Shanghai American School (SAS) is taking significant steps to redefine student leadership through a collaborative initiative with Inspire Citizens. Guided by Global Citizenship Coordinators Naomy Peña and Sheilah Grace at the Puxi and Pudong campuses respectively, this effort has already transformed the student leadership landscape. With a tailored, two-day leadership training event and ongoing mentorship, the initiative integrates cutting-edge concepts to empower students as adaptable and compassionate leaders.
Exploring a Student Life Model for Holistic Growth
At the heart of SAS’s leadership initiative is its innovative Student Life model, designed to holistically engage students in leadership roles. "We look at students throughout their day, across dimensions like self-advocacy, action, passion, visibility, and representation," explains Naomy. The model ensures leadership training doesn’t just prepare students for council or club roles but equips them with transferable skills applicable in areas like university applications, summer internships, and extracurricular activities.
The program, now in its second year, builds on a solid foundation. Students began by creating a unified vision and mission for student life across both campuses. This year, they deepened their understanding through tailored training facilitated by IC team members Aaron Moniz and Ivy Yan, co-facilitating alongside SAS staff. “The training moved beyond traditional skills like meeting management and project planning,” says Naomy. "We focused on compassionate communication, systems thinking, and emotional intelligence—skills essential for navigating uncertain environments."
Under a proprietary framework called Inspire Students, the Inspire Citizens team works alongside school leaders to develop programming to cultivate talent and leadership skills from the outset. Young leaders are coached as they identify practical actions and implement new investigative skills to bring about sustainable partnerships that matter to them.
"Seeing them connect deeply while walking together was a beautiful reminder of the importance of relationships in leadership," says SAS Pudong Global Citizenship Coordinator Sheilah Grace. (Image: SAS Marcom)
Transformative Training, Tailored to SAS Needs
The partnership between SAS and Inspire Citizens demonstrates the power of collaboration in educational leadership. “We provided IC with a skeleton of what we needed—elements like emotional intelligence and adaptive leadership styles—and they turned it into a dynamic two-day workshop,” says Naomy.
This tailored approach resonated deeply with the students. "Leadership is not about titles like president or vice president," Naomy emphasizes. “It’s about responsibility. Students across different roles—whether in clubs, honor societies, or Model United Nations—began seeing themselves as leaders for the first time.”
For Sheilah, one of the most powerful moments came during the culminating event, where students presented their action plans. "Hearing their ideas re-energized me," she says. "One group, for example, created a creative public service announcement video to promote other service clubs. It was really great."
Personalized training and facilitation for SAS students happens on-site and virtually. Ivy Yan (above right) offers a listening ear and guidance during the 2-day workshop retreat.
The Role of Compassion and Connection
The initiative’s success is also reflected in its emphasis on compassion and connection. Sheilah recalls observing students engaging in reflective "walk-and-talk" sessions around the campus track. "Seeing them connect deeply while walking together was a beautiful reminder of the importance of relationships in leadership," she says.
The inclusion of peer mentoring has further enhanced the program. "We’re exploring a model where 12th graders serve as mentors in their final semester, passing on their knowledge and supporting younger students," explains Naomy.
Professional Support and Future Growth
The ongoing involvement of Inspire Citizens ensures the program remains dynamic and impactful. Regular online check-ins with facilitator Scott Jamieson and the IC team allow for continued refinement and support as students actualize their action plans. "The check-ins send a clear message to students: this work doesn’t end with the training," says Sheilah. "It’s who we are as a school community."
The initiative is also paving the way for broader engagement. While IC’s work has focused primarily on high school students, there are plans to extend leadership development to middle and elementary school levels. "We want these values to grow with our students, creating a continuum of leadership from a young age," says Naomy.
A Legacy Beyond Titles
Sheilah encapsulates the sentiment: "This is who we are, and this is the work we are committed to continuing." Together, SAS and Inspire Citizens are proving that leadership is not a title but a responsibility—and one that can inspire meaningful change in school communities and beyond.