By Emily Williams
Mountain Brook city officials gathered at City Hall on Aug. 16 to welcome the 2016-17 class of Leadership Mountain Brook, a program offered to juniors and seniors at Mountain Brook High School that fosters leadership skills while exposing students to the inner-workings of a city government.
The 20 students – 10 juniors and 10 seniors – will spend the year working closely with different departments of the city both to learn and to offer their own ideas to enhance the quality of life in the city.
The class is led by MBHS business teacher Amber Benson, who, along with a committee, selects students for the program through an application process and interviews.
“Overall, the students selected are passionate about their community, take initiative, communicate effectively and have time to commit themselves to the program,” Benson said.
Class members were welcomed to their new positions by Mayor Terry Oden; Dana Hazen, director of planning, building and sustainability; Ted Cook, chief of police; Shannon Williams, director of parks and recreation; Ronald Vaughn, director of public works; Sue DeBrecht, executive director of Emmett O’Neal Library; Steve Boone, director of finance; Stacey Cole, deputy fire chief; and Sam Gaston, city manager.
In an addition to the curriculum this year, the class will work directly with these departments in an effort to learn about the inner workings of a city government firsthand. The students also are encouraged to voice their opinions and ideas throughout the process and leave their mark on the city.
“Over the last number of years, Leadership Mountain Brook has come up with some fantastic ideas for the city,” Superintendent Dicky Barlowe said. “In fact, I just walked across one of them – the bricks outside of this building.”
In a new feature this year, Barlowe and the Mountain Brook School System’s central office administrators will join their fellow city officials and teach class members about the history and operations of the school system.
Benson said she hopes the addition will change the student’s perspective of their daily school routine and, just maybe, they will consider the school system when planning annual improvement projects.
“Each year, I look forward to watching these students grow and develop their leadership skills in a unique setting,” Benson said. “It’s exciting to see each class challenge themselves to be the best. The students know what the previous groups have accomplished and how those projects are impacting the community.”
The 2015-16 class’ published children’s book, “Buttons Explores Mountain Brook,” caught the eye of one of the new class members, Matthew Bullock.
“I’ve seen what the other classes have done over the years and it grabbed a lot of attention and inspired me to want to do something more for the community,” Bullock said.
Though the class has just received their official welcome, they already have started their work. The students are working on a placement with Emmett O’Neal Library and are charged with creating something special for the upcoming Taste of Mountain Brook event.
“One of the first things we’re doing is trying to come up with a mission statement,” Bullock said. “It needs to be something that lasts throughout the years.”
“The excitement I experience each year lies in the moments when I witness the students developing their ideas and executing them into viable community improvements,” Benson said. “It is very rewarding to watch the transformation in the student’s confidence level as they progress through this leadership program.”
Members of the 2016-17 Leadership Mountain Brook class are Kendall Alby, Lane Berry, Mary Frances Bloodworth, Jennings Briley, Matthew Bullock, Will Bundy, Fredda Cardwell, Gracie Carmichael, Isabella DeGaris, Emily Ferguson, Madison Gaston, Sarah Gladney, Caroline Goings, Mary Louise Howland, Sarah Hydinger, Jonathan Jones, Rose Levine, Lily Rucker, Noelle Thrasher and Virginia Winn.