Leadership Lab at Morrow House nurtures future leaders

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, Morrow House proudly champions a program designed to cultivate essential skills that transcend the boundaries of traditional knowledge. Leadership Lab has become an integral component of our seventh and eighth-grade curriculum, shaping students to thrive in the dynamic challenges of the 21st century.

Head of Middle School and Director of Secondary School Placement Jed Silverstein, Ph.D., aptly notes, “Students can forget knowledge, but they will never lose skills,” encapsulating the ethos of our Leadership Lab. Comprised of the cornerstones of creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and complex communication — both verbal and written — the program weaves these skills into a series of engaging projects throughout the academic year.

Our seventh graders are currently immersed in “EMS Shark Tank” projects, working in teams to address local and global challenges. The culmination of their efforts will be showcased next semester, where they will present innovative solutions to an expert panel and the entire school community. This initiative not only hones creativity and verbal communication skills but also holds the promise of discovering budding inventors in our seventh-grade class.

Spring will see the continuation of the Leadership Lab for seventh graders, delving into logic, rhetoric, and ethics. Guided by Dr. Silverstein, students will engage in civil debates on moral questions, employing a theoretical framework to instill the crucial skill of making ethically sound decisions — a vital asset as they navigate their future endeavors.

In parallel, eighth graders embark on a new element of the Learning Lab curriculum, mastering the art of presenting like a TED talk. Crafting presentations centered around their core values in the “This I Believe” project, students enhance their public speaking abilities and lay the foundation for secondary school placement essays and interview questions — a pivotal step on their educational journey.

Alex R., an eighth grader, shares his positive experience with the “This I Believe” project, expressing how it has aided him in becoming more authentic in public speaking. He highlights the project’s value in self-discovery and emphasizes its role in developing essential skills for job interviews, adding that students are “really lucky to have this at school.” Classmate Greg G. echoes Alex’s sentiments, acknowledging the project’s role in fostering self-reflection and refining verbal communication skills.

Anne L., reflecting on her participation, emphasizes the benefits of presenting in front of peers and receiving constructive feedback. “None of us have had this experience of being critically examined by our peers, and it has been a learning curve,” she says. She credits the experience with cultivating a growth mindset in her approach to public speaking and has witnessed significant improvements in her presentations, helping her become a confident public speaker.

At the close of our academic year, our eighth graders will undertake their Capstone Project, an independent, in-depth research endeavor on a chosen subject. Last year’s projects ranged from enhancing public transport connectivity between New Jersey and New York City to developing prototype robot jellyfish for ocean cleaning and partnering with Teaneck Public Library to build a public literacy campaign.

In fostering these skills, the Leadership Lab at Morrow House remains committed to nurturing well-rounded individuals equipped with the tools to succeed academically and navigate the challenges of our rapidly evolving world.