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Leadership & International Relations

Our Mission

The Center for Leadership & International Relations offers a unique learning experience to students who seek to develop their leadership skills and to positively impact their community and the world.

Our Goals

The Center for Leadership & International Relations provides a rigorous and multifaceted curriculum that encourages students to be curious, open-minded, and willing to take intellectual risks.

  • Instill in students an understanding and a passion for leadership that positively impacts their community and their future

  • ​Increase the knowledge and develop the leadership skills necessary for students to be successful in leadership roles

  • ​Develop knowledgeable citizens who understand the role and impact of international relations on the well being of our society and the global community

  • ​Provide students an academically challenging and stimulating course of study.

  • Provide meaningful opportunities for learning and application of knowledge and skills

Contact Us

Address: 3700 James River Road
Midlothian, VA 23113
Office: 804-378-2420
Coordinator: Ian McClure
Staff Listing

Admissions

Course Sequencing

9th Grade

Freshman year introduces students to the cornerstone of communication. Students engage in thoughtful conversations throughout their classes. 9th grade coursework provides engaging dialogue and analysis of current events, literature, and history. 

10th Grade

Sophomore year provides myriad opportunities for students to improve their oral, written, and digital communication skills. Students address real-life communication issues, assess their personal communication strengths and areas for improvement, develop useful communication skills, and build a strong portfolio.

11th Grade

Junior year charges students to develop their abilities to read, explicate, analyze, and evaluate situations, their own ethical positions, and think critically and analytically about ethical issues. 

12th Grade

Senior year culminates with the skills learned throughout a student's tenure in the Center. Students combine their leadership, communication, critical thinking and decision making skills to complete rigorous coursework, implement a Capstone Project, and participate in a real-world internship.

Leadership Council

Students playing a game

Leadership Council provides an opportunity for Center students to practice the skills they have learned in their Center coursework. If the Quad is the beating heart of the Center, the Council is the blood that runs through its veins. Council committees meet regularly and work collaboratively to develop and execute all events and functions of the Center. The Council is composed of three committees and requires a dedicated core group of students to function. Applications for the Council open during the first week of classes and roles are appointed or elected by mid-September.

Internships & Enrichment Opportunities

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Capstone

The senior elective focuses on applying servant leadership skills acquired throughout the Center. Each student, either as an individual or pair, is responsible for designing and implementing a Capstone Project that serves the community or school.

Past projects include basketball tournaments for leukemia awareness, benefit fashion shows and concerts, a recycling program, after-school art enrichment programs, soccer clinics for the Head Start program, and golf tournaments for charity.

Join our Clarity, our Parent Organization

CLARITY is the parent organization supporting the Leadership & International Relations Center. (Chesterfield Leadership And International Relations Inspiring Today's Youth). CLARITY is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to support the students and teachers in the Leadership Center via volunteer and financial support.

Students pose in classroom

Alumni Networking

We are incredibly proud of the ever-growing list of prestigious leaders that comprise our alumnni network.  Our alumni are medical and legal professionals, military and foreign service leaders, business owners, school administrators, and more.  We are excited to host our second annual Leadership Alumni Conference in November 2023!

​We invite alumni to interact with current students in a variety of ways.  If you are an alumnus and would like to speak to a class or group of students, please contact Ian McClure.

Alumni Resources