Leaders Lab is a hands-on leadership and career exploration course where students discover how successful leaders think, communicate, solve problems, and make a positive impact in their communities.
Students develop the habits of successful learners by practicing organization, goal setting, collaboration, resilience (grit), communication, and responsible decision-making through engaging projects rather than traditional worksheets. Skills commonly associated with AVID—such as planning, organization, research, collaboration, and reflection—are taught naturally as students complete real-world challenges.
Throughout the quarter, students explore careers within the Leaders House, including:
💼 Business & Entrepreneurship
⚖️ Law & Public Policy
🏛️ Government & Public Service
🚒 Public Safety
Students investigate careers such as entrepreneur, CEO, lawyer, judge, mayor, city planner, police chief, firefighter, EMT, FBI professional, nonprofit director, emergency manager, and many others.
Each class begins with a "Day in the Life" career video, followed by interactive EVERFI activities, collaborative EduProtocols, simulations, debates, design challenges, and leadership projects. Students build a Leadership Portfolio that documents their growth, career interests, and accomplishments throughout the course.
By the end of the nine-week experience, students will better understand their personal strengths, discover careers that match their interests, and develop the confidence and leadership skills needed for success in middle school, high school, and beyond.
✔ Be organized and manage responsibilities
✔ Set goals and persevere through challenges
✔ Work effectively as part of a team
✔ Communicate ideas with confidence
✔ Think critically and solve problems
✔ Make ethical decisions
✔ Explore leadership careers
✔ Develop career readiness skills
✔ Build confidence as leaders
Students learn by participating in:
Career exploration
"Day in the Life" career videos
EVERFI interactive lessons
Leadership simulations
Mock trials
City council meetings
Shark Tank business challenges
Emergency response scenarios
Escape-room leadership challenges
Design thinking projects
EduProtocols
Leadership Portfolio reflections
Our goal is simple:
Help every student discover that leadership is not about having a title—it is about using your strengths to serve others, solve problems, and make a positive difference in your school and community.
Leaders Lab is where middle school students discover who they are, explore careers that make a difference, and build the confidence, character, and leadership skills to become someone others can count on.