Kadena High School’s AVID students focus on leadership

Dr. James Bleecker

Dec 09, 2025

Kadena High School AVID students recently took part in a leadership focused learning experience designed to build college and career ready skills (Courtesy photos)

Kadena Air Base, Japan – Kadena High School’s AVID students recently took part in a leadership focused learning experience designed to build college and career ready skills. This learning experience is part of a broader KDHS initiative to build a sustainable, student-led tutorial system that empowers all AVID scholars to engage in rigorous inquiry and deeper learning.

AVID ISS Maria Mendoza partnered with eleventh and twelfth-grade AVID students for the session, which began with a Quick Write prompting students to reflect on the qualities and practices of strong leaders. Students then huddled in collaborative groups to share their ideas and draw connections between leadership, confidence, and personal growth.

To deepen thinking and practice academic discourse, students engaged in Philosophical Chairs, using AVID’s academic language scripts to support respectful academic discourse. Students examined the statement: “People are born natural leaders.” The prompt sparked thoughtful debate as students practiced evidence-based reasoning, paraphrasing, and active listening.

“Leadership doesn’t necessarily entail being strong in all skills but building into your own strengths,” AVID eleventh grader Brandon Hutchinson said.

Classmate Caleb Smith added that positive role models help students grow more confident in their leadership abilities.

“We learn to be leaders from our experiences.” Yuri Magee said.

These reflections mirror the instructional goal of the day’s lesson: building leadership from lived experience and providing structured opportunities for students to lead others.

The activities laid the groundwork for a schoolwide AVID initiative in which AVID juniors and seniors will soon mentor and coach ninth- and tenth-grade AVID students in leading tutorials. By investing in upperclassmen now, KDHS is cultivating a strong cohort of peer leaders who can support younger AVID scholars in tackling rigorous content, increasing academic ownership, and strengthening schoolwide college and career readiness.