Montgomery County Leadership Academies Develop Future Civic and Business Leaders

The Montgomery County Leadership Academies are year-long mentorship programs that prepare high school students in grades 9–12 for leadership roles in education, careers, and civic life. What began with just 20 participants has grown to more than 60 students annually, evidence of both strong demand and proven results.

Mentorship That Builds Character and Skills

Students in the Leadership Academies interact with mentors and community leaders from across the region while taking part in a wide range of activities. These include college visits, cultural and social events, team-building exercises, obstacle courses, and direct engagement with elected officials and county leaders.

Each experience is designed to build three core pillars of growth:

• Character – building integrity, honesty, compassion, and a strong moral compass.
• Soft Skills – strengthening communication, self-control, higher-order thinking, and social skills.
• Leadership – developing respect, courage, fairness, civic responsibility, optimism, and self-motivation.

Through mentorship and hands-on experiences, students learn how to lead with confidence, think critically, and make values-based decisions that will guide them in their personal and professional futures.

Unified Program, Shared Experiences

The Academies were initially launched as separate programs for young men and women. Today, they operate as a single, unified initiative. This structure creates opportunities for collaboration while preserving a strong emphasis on peer advocacy and student-led recruitment.

Students themselves play an essential role in growing the program, sharing their experiences at schools and community events to encourage peers to apply. This peer-to-peer model creates authentic outreach and ensures the program continues to reflect student interests and aspirations.

Exposure to Higher Education and Civic Engagement

By visiting colleges, engaging with state leaders, and participating in professional development workshops modeled after adult leadership programs, students gain awareness of educational, career, and civic opportunities within and beyond Montgomery County.

One of the program’s greatest strengths is its ability to give students a “behind-the-scenes” look at how institutions of higher learning, government, and business work together. These real-world experiences equip participants with practical knowledge and inspire them to envision their own future pathways.

Benefits That Extend Beyond Students

The impact of the Leadership Academies reaches well beyond the participants themselves.

• For students, the benefits include personal growth, exposure to higher education and careers, and the development of leadership skills rooted in character and responsibility.
• For mentors, the Academies offer the opportunity to impart wisdom, improve the community, and positively shape the next generation of Montgomery County leaders.

This dual impact strengthens connections between students and community leaders, creating a cycle of mentorship and growth that benefits the entire region.

Building a Foundation for Montgomery County’s Future

Graduating about one-quarter of its participants annually, the program sustains steady growth while ensuring continuity from year to year. Alumni leave with a stronger sense of civic responsibility, career direction, and leadership capacity, which are assets that contribute to Montgomery County’s long-term civic and economic vitality.

Educators, policymakers, and employers who want to support Montgomery County’s next generation of leaders are encouraged to connect with Montgomery County Workforce Development to engage with the Leadership Academies.