At SCVi Charter School in Santa Clarita, faculty and staff not only focus on teaching their learners the curriculum, but also cultivating leadership skills they can take with them after graduation.

“At our schools, we recognize the importance of not just teaching kids content, but developing that leadership in them,” said Matt Watson, host of SCVi/iLead schools’ “Eye on the Valley” radio show on KHTS.

During the latest show, Watson welcomed Corrine Barchanowicz, visionary general manager at Westfield Valencia Town Center, to talk about the importance of leadership in youth. 

Related: SCVi Learner Performs Original Song From ‘Kindness Project’ Live On KHTS Radio

“Leadership for me really does start at an early age, and it’s amazing the different opportunities you get to develop those skills to be a leader,” Barchanowicz said, noting that playing team sports as a child and going on to be a team captain and then a coach heavily influenced her leadership development. 

“That was really influential, and I didn’t obviously realize it at the time, but really influential in shaping the leader I then wanted to become as I came into a professional role,” she continued. 

Barchanowicz noted that at Westfield, members of senior management do not simply look at positions as “entry-level” or “manager” during the hiring process, but instead are “constantly looking at how they invest in every one of us to become future leaders in the business.”

In fact, Barchanowicz has been invited to take part in a leadership coaching program with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion in senior leadership, and developing women leaders in particular. 

“I really love that they’ve taken that acknowledgment to see that there are different needs when it comes to the way that women work in the workplace and the way that men traditionally do as well,” Barchanowicz said.

The program is designed to provide coaching and mentoring to women the company has identified as “future leaders” in an effort to help them “develop the skill set to help propel our growth to senior leadership roles,” according to Barchanowicz.

Watson added, “It’s great to see how much you and Westfield and SCVi, our schools, have in common, although it’s not surprising because our town center and our schools are products of the same innovative, giving community.” 

He concluded by addressing parents that had tuned in to the radio show, saying, “If you listeners have a child who wants to be part of that next generation of innovative change-makers and you want to ensure that they’re being prepared to lead the way with a sense of service and community, come visit us at SCVi.” 

Ed. Note: This article is a KHTS Community Spotlight based on a recent radio show with SCVi/iLead Charter School in Santa Clarita. 

SCVi/iLead is a tuition free charter school in Santa Clarita that uses project-based and social-emotional learning concepts to inspire and motivate lifelong learners with the skills they need to lead in the 21st century. Technology is incorporated into all components of the curriculum, and learners are given a firm grounding in the arts, humanities and sciences. School officials value and encourage development of leadership skills by inspiring character and confidence in learners. SCVi/iLead offers transitional kindergarten (TK) through 12th grade, providing a unique learning opportunity for those in need of a kindergarten in Santa Clarita, elementary school in Santa Clarita, jr high in Santa Clarita, middle school in Santa Clarita or high school in Santa Clarita. 

SCVi/iLead

28060 Hasley Canyon Rd.

Castaic, CA 91384

Lower School: 661-705-4820

Upper School: 661-705-8420

SCVi/iLead – Santa Clarita

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SCVi/iLead, High School in Santa Clarita, Middle School in Santa Clarita, Jr High School in Santa Clarita, Elementary School in Santa Clarita, Kindergarten in Santa Clarita, Charter School in Santa Clarita, Tuition Free