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Dreaming Forward initiative gives Colonial SD seniors external leadership training and peer collaboration
Summary
District staff described the Dreaming Forward program, a collaboration with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit and other partners, and a senior participant said the program helped students develop leadership skills, share stories and propose tangible ideas to improve student belonging.
Dr. Figueroa Douglas introduced the district's participation in the Dreaming Forward initiative, a Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) program that brings students from multiple districts together for leadership and belonging work.
Dr. Figueroa Douglas said the district selected five students who already demonstrated leadership in school clubs and counselor recommendations. The program aims to build self'awareness and leadership skills, and to help participants amplify student voice on issues such as belonging and student engagement. The district will also link Dreaming Forward work to local initiatives such as the portrait of a graduate and student leadership forums.
Senior Lou Salin (PW) described his Dreaming Forward experience: the group listened to keynote speakers, participated in breakout rooms, shared stories and translated those conversations into proposed actions to improve student belonging at Plymouth'Whitemarsh High School. "One of the biggest problems that we know amongst our school, and as the PSSM survey indicates, is that student belonging amongst their peers is much worse than as opposed to student belonging amongst their teachers," Salin said. The student added that Dreaming Forward produced a short list of practical steps — including encouraging clubs and creating more student communities — that the team planned to bring to student council.
Dr. Figueroa Douglas said she and other district staff participate in steering committee work with MCIU and that students will have further leadership forum opportunities, including a University of Pennsylvania'hosted event later in the school year. She also noted a West Chester University pipeline initiative with 16 students identified for future opportunities.
No formal committee action was recorded; the presentation was informational and intended to highlight student leadership pathways and cross'district collaboration.
