Employers desire evidence of leadership skills and experiences in potential employees.  High school students in Ohio are getting a jump-start through their participation in LOOK to Ohio.  LOOK stands for Leadership Opportunities for Organizational Knowledge and is an innovative teen leadership program that incorporates three main components; monthly place-based education classes, a blended learning leadership course and service learning projects.

Participants engage in place-based education through monthly face-to-face classes held at businesses and organizations throughout a particular county.  Teens interface with business and community leaders to learn about topics and careers relevant to that day’s theme.

LOOK to Ohio students also earn college credit by completing the Communications and Leadership Course 2194, LOOK: Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders, offered through The Ohio State Academy.  This course focuses on leadership theories, principles and content offered via a flipped classroom format.

Students put it all together and practice the leadership content in which they learn about through the leadership course and place-based education classes by identifying and implementing service learning projects.   The service learning projects not only teach civic responsibility but also teamwork, communication and time management.

Extension Educators are preparing tomorrow’s leaders today through this multi-faceted, innovative leadership program.