About Junior Leadership

The Spartanburg Area Chamber's Junior Leadership Program was developed to give High School students in Spartanburg County the opportunity to have a learning experience outside of the classroom while learning valuable skills that will benefit their future leadership endeavors. 

Curriculum

School board approval has been given so that time away from school to participate in JLS does not count as an absence. The curriculum content is as follows:

A Program Committee made up of graduates from Leadership Spartanburg is responsible for the overall planning and implementation of the Junior Leadership Spartanburg program.

The Chamber’s Program Manager assists the Program Committee for Junior Leadership Spartanburg in planning and coordinating each Junior Leadership function and attends all activities, functions and meetings pertaining to the program.

An annual budget of approximately $5,500 is required to offer the Junior Leadership program.

These funds come from tuition of $75.00 per student to cover meal and transportation costs. Donations from civic clubs, companies, foundations, and individuals have completed the necessary funding.

Approval and Support of the Program

Following the approval of the format of Junior Leadership Spartanburg by the Leadership Spartanburg Board of Regents in May, 1987, the program was adopted for inclusion in the Chamber’s Program of Work.

The program then received endorsement and approval of the seven school district superintendents and of the seven school boards of Spartanburg County. The school boards have recognized the days of leadership training as school attendance days for the students participating. Attendance at Junior Leadership Spartanburg sessions falling within regular school hours will count as school attendance days for the students and will not reflect badly on school attendance records, nor keep the students from participating in extracurricular activities on those days, such as participation in sports and other school activities.