Faculty Foster Leadership at Air Force Academy

Throughout its history, St. Mark's has infused lessons of character and leadership (C&L) Education directly into its classes and programs. The result is an increasingly consistent approach from teachers across campus that reinforces the School’s core values and ideals. From the science lab to the art studio and from the journalism suite to the pool, boys learn first and foremost to be upstanding leaders. 

While St. Mark's faculty are at the forefront of this type of education, the School is constantly striving to enhance C&L across divisions and subjects. In support of this, four teachers recently traveled to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs to learn about character and leadership from some of the nation’s top military leaders and educators. With a theme of “Warfighters to Win,” the 2025 National Character and Leadership Symposium emphasized developing leaders who embody integrity, service, and excellence.

The St. Mark’s delegation included teachers from all three divisions: Ryan Brewer, Upper School science teacher; Teri Broom, Ackerman Family Master Teaching Chair in Lower School; Dr. Marty Stegemoeller, Malcolm K. and Minda Brachman Master Teaching Chair; and Reilly Walker, Middle School humanities teacher. 
Beyond the symposium’s sessions and speakers, the trip allowed these teachers to learn how each other integrates C&L within their respective divisions – and how they could better complement each other’s work. 

“The time with colleagues was indispensable and, in some ways, helped each of us get back to the basics,” said Dr. Stegemoeller. “Educating boys to be leaders of character is the fundamental job of every St. Mark’s teacher. This extended period of reflection and collaboration helped us all remember that and return energized with ideas to do it even better.”

The symposium included more than 6,000 participants – cadets, educators, and young scholars – and featured current and retired service members sharing personal stories of leadership, resilience, and decision-making under pressure. 

In addition to keynote addresses, faculty members participated in workshops focused on leadership and ethical challenges. Sessions such as “Crafting Warrior Leaders,” “Moral Injury and Warrior Ethos,” and “Forging Warriors of Change” explored the qualities that define strong leadership. 

"Being away from the normal routines of school and our personal lives gave us the opportunity to share ideas and thoughts about ways we can implement C&L overall in our own classes," said Teri Broom. "We ate every meal together in the hotel, and they all became working lunches or dinners, with lengthy discussions on how we incorporate C&L into teaching."

St. Mark's teachers have become experts at infusing character and leadership education into their classes, even in subjects that might not seem obviously suited for such lessons. At the symposium, Ryan Brewer workshopped ways to incorporate character and leadership into his biology class.

“I am working on a mini curriculum that examines how human evolution transitioned from a focus on self-preservation to social and cultural learning, and how that shift influenced the traits humans value in their leaders,” said Brewer. “I want them to connect the historical and evolutionary perspectives on leadership to their personal development in leadership here at St. Mark’s.” 

Reilly Walker was especially moved by a session on resilience presented by one of the Air Force Academy’s professors, who broke down the concept of adversity as the ability to withstand, recover, and grow in the face of stressors.

“Stressors come in all shapes and sizes and can shift the course of the day or an entire life,” Walker said. “I’m looking forward to incorporating reflection and storytelling in my classes to get our students to identify their own individual needs while building their ‘resilience toolkit’ for the future.”

The symposium offered a firsthand look at how the Air Force instills leadership and character in its cadets, inspiring St. Mark’s educators to enhance their own programs. Teachers connected with a common set of core values that define the Air Force Academy – integrity, courage, and a sense of duty – values that extend beyond the classroom.  

Character & Leadership Education has been central to the St. Mark’s experience since its founding in 1906. In 2005, the School began to draft a framework to formally weave C&L into the curriculum. Since then, St. Mark’s has published a faculty handbook that provides concepts and common vocabulary for teachers to develop curriculum. Students have also begun building Path to Manhood portfolios that capture each boy’s reflections on his journey through St. Mark’s. The School is now looking ahead toward hosting a national conference to share C&L resources with colleagues across the nation and the world.