The fundamental weakness of most student leadership development programs is their lack of opportunity for real leadership experience. Real leadership only exists when there is a significant level of tangible responsibility and direct accountability for other people. With that in mind, there are four fundamental purposes of the Priory Leadership Program:

• increased responsibility
• peer accountability
• critical understanding of leadership theory
• hands-on leadership experience

By giving students significant responsibility in the operation of the school and direct accountability for their peers, students will gain the real experience that is required to successfully develop as the kind of leaders prepared to make a difference in their schools, business, families, communities, and beyond.

The student body is divided into eight Priories (a Servite word for a community) of 110-120 students each, freshmen through seniors. Each Priory is named after one of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order with the addition of “Philip,” one of the primary saints of the Servite Order:

• Alexis
• Amideus
• Bonajuncta (pronounced “bonayuncta”)
• Bonfilius
• Hugh
• Manettus
• Philip
• Sostene (pronounced “sostinay”)

Each Priory is led by a senior Prior and five senior or junior Assistant Priors. The Prior and his Assistant Priors are expected not only to lead their Priory through a variety of activities and competitions with the other Priories, but also to uphold and enforce standards regarding moral discipline, academic performance, and leadership. Each Priory is further divided into five Homerooms of approximately 15 students each, sophomores through seniors. Each Homeroom is led by one of the Priory’s five Assistant Priors. Under the direction of the Prior, the Assistant Priors not only plan but implement their Priory’s goals and objectives within their Homerooms. While the work of the Priors and Assistant Priors is continuous, the primary means of implementation of Priory activities is through the Priory Period which occurs twice a week. While faculty Proctors are present within each Homeroom for the purpose of guidance and supervision, the plan and its implementation for each period is left entirely in the hands of the Prior and his Assistant Priors.

The management of the entire Priory System is overseen by the Prior General and the other members of the Generalate – the Vicar General, Secretary General, and Treasurer General. To this end, the Generalate, in consultation with the Principal and Priory Director, determines the directives for the Priories and Priory Committees each year. Furthermore, the Generalate are seen by the Administration as the primary representatives of the student body and, as such, is often consulted on a variety of school matters large and small.

The traditional ASB model is typically activity-based, wherein student leaders execute tasks related to the implementation of campus programs that are in large part pre-packaged (insofar as most are annual events – school dances, pep rallies, fundraisers, etc.). Beyond a set list of activities, student leaders have limited responsibility for campus life and, similarly, have very little accountability for the behavior of their peers. The Priory Leadership Program gives student leaders much greater responsibility for the operation of the school and makes all students accountable to each other for their performance in all areas of campus life.