Ignite Leadership Curriculum
An evidence-based, project-driven leadership course aligned to CTE, college and career readiness, and workforce-ready skill development
Evidence-Based | College & Career Aligned | Community Impact Driven |Â
Evidence-Based | College & Career Aligned | Community Impact Driven |Â
Evidence-Based | College & Career Aligned | Community Impact Driven |Â
Evidence-Based | College & Career Aligned | Community Impact Driven |Â
A Project-Based Leadership Experience Built for Postsecondary Success
The Ignite Leadership Curriculum is a 34-week course built around intentional skill progression, applied leadership practice, and measurable growth.
Each unit includes:
- Direct leadership instruction
- Structured discussion and reflection
- Project-based application
- Real-world facilitation practice
- Performance-based assessment
Students move from learning leadership concepts toactively practicing and demonstrating them in authentic settings.
What Makes Ignite Different
Ignite is intentionally designed for today’s students and schools:
Project-Based Learning
Leadership is learned through doing—facilitating, planning, collaborating, and solving real-world challenges.
Evidence-Based Design
Each unit integrates leadership theory, practical tools, and measurable skill development.
PostÂsecondary Focus
Skills align directly to CTE pathways, college readiness, and transferable workforce competencies.
Measurable Outcomes
Growth is tracked through rubrics, reflection cycles, and performance-based assessments.
Ignite Leadership students graduate with a portfolio of leadership experiences, documented growth, and transferable skills that matter beyond the classroom.
The Five Pillars of Leadership
Ignite Leadership is built on five research- aligned leadership competencies that prepare students for college, career and the real-world. These pillars align with National Career and Technical Education Standards and transferable workforce skills.
#1
Communication
Clarity, empathy, presentation, listening.
#2
Collaboration
Shared responsibility, trust building, conflict resolution.
#3
Adaptability
Flexibility, resilience, feedback-informed improvement.
#4
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Action planning, initiative, inquiry.
#5
Personal Development & Community Leadership
Purpose, values, career readiness, community impact.
Together the 5 pillars
form a unified framework that develops confident, adaptable, and purpose-driven leaders.
Course Structure & Learning Design
Design & Structure Overview
The Ignite Leadership Curriculum is designed as a 34-week course built around intentional skill progression, applied leadership practice and measurable growth.
This structure allows students to practice leadership over time and demonstrate growth through authentic evidence—not just completion.
Instructional Elements
- Direct leadership instruction
- Structured discussions and reflection
- Committee/team structures
- Journaling and guided reflection
- Real-world facilitatin practice
- Performance-based assessment
- Student-led facilitation and presentations
Students move from learning leadershp concept to actively practicing and demonstrating them in authentic settings.
Sign up to access the Scope & Sequence (Educator Access)
Review the Ignite Leadership Scope & Sequence to explore unit themes, learning outcomes, and how leadership skills build over time.
Pathways, Placement, & Credit Benefits
The Ignite Leadership Curriculum is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing academic and CTE structures.
It can be implemented as:
- A CTE leadership course
- A College & Career Readiness course
- An IB-aligned leadership elective
- A Portrait of a Graduate pathway course
- A leadership elective
Alignment to Career & Technical Education
Ignite Leadership can be implemented within CTE–framework, building leadership pathways within existing systems.
Applicable pathways include:
- General Leadership
- Education & Training
- Family & Consumer Sciences
- College & Career Readiness
Districts may request standards alignment and course coding guidance.
Not sure where Ignite Leadership fits in your building?
This flexibility allows districts to launch leadership programming using existing structures and schedules without additional staffing or new periods.
Student & School Performance Outcomes
When implemented as a leadership course, Ignite becomes an additional lever for improving school performance. Leadership coursework uplifts indicators schools are measured on—attendance, engagement, self-management, connectedness, and course completion—while giving students a class they enjoy and excel in.
The result is a course that strengthens both student development and school performance profiles.
Framework & Accountability Alignment
aligned to Recognized frameworks
- IB Approaches to Learning (ATL)
- Portrait of a Graduate competencies
- CTE leadership & employability standards
- College & Career Readiness indicators
This alignment makes Ignite adaptable for districts pursuing performance-based learning, competency frameworks, and future-ready graduation pathways.
Check out Ignite's alignment to Portrait of a Graduate!
Mentoring as an Applied Leadership Experience
Schools may activate an Applied Mentoring Experience that extends learning beyond the classroom. Students facilitate structured peer mentoring sessions, support younger students, and contribute to school priorities such as attendance, behavior, and belonging. This optional layer allows students to apply their leadership skills in service of others, while helping schools strengthen culture and connection.
Schools may activate an Applied Mentoring Experience that extends leadership beyond the classroom. Students facilitate structured peer mentoring sessions, support younger students, and contribute to school priorities such as attendance, behavior, and belonging. This layer allows students to apply their leadership skills in service of others, while helping schools strengthen culture and connection.
Outcomes That Matter
By the end of the course, students will have:
- Demonstrated growth across the Five Pillars of Leadership
- Lead meaningful projects and mentoring expereinces.
- Apply  facilitation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills
- Completed a documented leadership portfolio
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about our high school mentoring program? Check this out!
Is Ignite Leadership a full-year course?
Yes. Designed as a 34-week course with adaptable pacing, but can be offered as a semester, or accelerated model.
How are students assessed in the Ignite Leadership course?
Performance-based assessments, rubrics, reflection cycles, and a culminating capstone.
Do schools need mentoring to run the course?
No. Mentoring is optional but enhances applied leadership.
Who typically teaches Ignite Leadership?
Commonly taught by Leadership, CTE, or CCR instructors.
Take the Next Step
Whether you’re exploring a leadership elective, a CTE-aligned pathway, or a college and career readiness course, Ignite Leadership is designed to meet your goals.
Let’s build a leadership experience that works for your students and your school.