This summer, the Ann Richards School launched the ACE Leadership Institute, a new initiative that gives our Stars more opportunities to explore what leadership means and put it into practice. ACE stands for Ann, Cecile, and Ellen Richards, three women whose leadership and legacy continue to inspire the Ann Richards School community.
At the heart of ACE is a simple idea. Leadership is not just about having a title. It is about the choices we make every day.
The ACE Leadership Institute provides a common language for leadership across the Ann Richards School, helping our Stars develop skills they can use in the classroom, in their communities, in college, and throughout their lives. The framework focuses on five leadership threads: accountability, adaptability, advocacy, collaboration, and empathy. Together, these qualities encourage our Stars to take ownership, grow through challenges, use their voices, work with others, and lead with understanding and compassion.
The first major experience under the new initiative was the ACE Summer Leadership Academy, a three-day experience that brought together approximately 50 high school Stars who had demonstrated leadership on campus and wanted to develop their skills further. Through interactive workshops, guest speakers, reflection activities, and team-building exercises, students explored their values, strengths, communication styles, and personal leadership visions. They also practiced skills in listening, public speaking, conflict resolution, and feedback.
ACE builds on a long-standing part of the Ann Richards School experience. Every student participates in STARS, a daily leadership class that provides opportunities to learn and practice leadership skills. The ACE initiative brings that work together into a more cohesive approach to give our Stars a consistent leadership experience from sixth through twelfth grade.
This work is made possible in part through generous funding from the Tejemos Foundation. Their support is helping the Ann Richards School expand leadership education and create meaningful opportunities for students to develop their voices, strengthen their skills, and practice leading in real-world settings.
The ACE Leadership Institute carries forward a legacy of leadership while allowing our Stars to create their own.
