Leadership & Communication Arts
Where Tradition Meets Innovation | Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders
Welcome to Muskegon Public Schools' Leadership and Communication Arts programs, where students develop the essential leadership skills and communication competencies needed to drive positive change in their communities and beyond. Through National Honor Society, Student Council, Rotary International Interact Club, Army JROTC, and Student Academy Ambassadors (student leaders who represent our Innovation Academies of Muskegon through our Ford Next Generation Learning partnership), our programs cultivate the civic engagement, ethical leadership, and effective communication abilities every Big Red Graduate needs to thrive in college, careers, and life as part of our Innovation Academies of Muskegon (I AM) and Portrait of a Graduate framework. Leadership and communication arts education develops critical thinking, public speaking, collaborative decision-making, and community service skills—through authentic leadership experiences, service learning projects, and civic engagement opportunities, students don't just learn about leadership, they practice leading and making meaningful contributions to their school and community.
Building Big Red Graduate Traits Through Leadership and Communication Arts
Our leadership and communication arts programs directly develop each competency in Muskegon's Portrait of a Graduate:
Persistent Professional
Students develop accountability and work ethic through consistent committee participation, meeting deadlines for service projects, and fulfilling leadership responsibilities that require sustained commitment and follow-through.
Collaborator/Relationship Builder
Leadership roles in student government, honor societies, and service clubs require students to build consensus among diverse groups, facilitate productive discussions, and work respectfully with peers, adults, and community members toward shared goals.
Creative Problem Solver
Student leaders regularly address complex school and community challenges, requiring innovative approaches to issues like student engagement, fundraising for causes, and developing solutions that serve multiple stakeholder needs.
Adaptable Communicator
Through public speaking, meeting facilitation, written proposals, and digital communication, students master multiple forms of expression while learning to tailor their message effectively for diverse audiences from peers to community leaders.
Responsible Citizen
Leadership and service programs emphasize civic responsibility, ethical decision-making, and understanding how individual actions impact the broader community, preparing students to be engaged citizens and positive community contributors.
Connected to Your Future
Leadership and communication arts create the foundational experiences that prepare students for success in any Innovation Academy pathway they choose. Whether students enter Health & Human Services, Public Service & Education, Business & Entrepreneurship, or any other academy pathway, the leadership skills, communication abilities, and civic mindset developed through these programs provide the essential foundation for thriving in their chosen field and beyond graduation.
Through the authentic leadership opportunities, service learning projects, and civic engagement experiences that define our student organizations, honor societies, and Student Academy Ambassador roles, students develop both leadership competency and the collaborative, community-minded approach that drives success in college, careers, and life.
