Summer Leadership Program Returns

A Message From the Superintendent

Summer Leadership Program Returns

Dr. Barbara Sargent

Through a joint venture between the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District, the Parsippany Police Department, and the PAL organization, a Juvenile Accountability Leadership Program (JALP) was organized for middle and high school students this past July. Over the course of two weeks, students participated in leadership coaching sessions, exercised in fitness classes, joined Patrolman D’Allesandro for marching drill instruction, and met with school counselors to learn self-advocacy and mindfulness skills.

The JALP program had been on hiatus since the pandemic and this summer provided the perfect opportunity to re-engage our students with valuable leadership and discipline training. School Resource Officers Robert Lenahan, Patrick McCarthy, and Greg Bloete were available throughout the program and accompanied the students on visits to the police station, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Training Facility, and the County Bomb Squad Unit. Students noted that the lessons from the US Marine Corps on Command Leadership and Team Building Skills were especially interesting. And, a surprise visit from Darryl McDaniels of musical group Run DMC was a big hit.

The program concluded with a group hike at Tourne County Park where the students, counselors, and School Resource Officers enjoyed the great outdoors.