The Bush Center
Lead at Houston Christian
With the only high school leadership center bearing the name and integrating the leadership legacies of a U.S. president, our dedicated and intentional space develops scholarship and leadership among gifted students from across the world.
In a time when ethical leadership is in decline, The George and Barbara Bush Center for Scholars and Leaders equips and inspires people to implement the leadership principles of the 41st president to positively influence their communities and beyond. The Bush Center promotes the development of scholarship and leadership through the cultivation and study of faith and moral guidelines for all ages, and we welcome you to explore our site and see how we can partner together to illuminate the world for the better.
In 2011, our Head of School, Dr. Stephen Livingston, and Board Member, Jeff Reeter, joined George & Barbara Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine to discuss the idea of a Leadership Center for High School students. They cited a study from Harvard Business Review, which concluded that the average age at which leadership skills are taught is around ten years after starting a supervisory role. The idea of purposefully teaching leadership concepts and skills in multiple programs and courses to high school students was, and still is, innovative and impactful. President and Mrs. Bush were intrigued by the concept, and with their blessing thus was born The George & Barbara Bush Center for Scholars and Leaders.
Housed on the campus of Houston Christian High School, The Bush Center boasts the largest collection of President Bush artifacts in Houston, Texas, where each component tells the story of the President and First Lady’s work while in office and their relentless efforts in helping to build young leaders.
Housed on the campus of Houston Christian High School, The Bush Center boasts the largest collection of President Bush artifacts in Houston, Texas, where each component tells the story of the President and First Lady’s work while in office and their relentless efforts in helping to build young leaders.
Currently in The Bush Center
List of 3 news stories.
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HC Attends Ladies for Literacy Guild Event
Head of School Leanne Messer and Director of The Bush Center Mindy Dickerson recently attended the First Lady’s Book Club Event featuring Jean Becker. Book Club is hosted by the Ladies for Literacy Guild of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. Jean discussed her newly released book “Character Matters and Other Life Lessons from George H. W. Bush” in conversation with Khambrel Marshall in the Parish Life Center of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. Jean Becker, Former Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush and New York Times bestselling author of The Man I Knew, shared touching and pivotal life lessons from a leader who left a mark on people’s hearts and souls. We are so honored to have a strong partnership with Jean Becker and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. Congratulations, Jean, it is an incredible read! -
Deutser Executive Visits DSP Students
Dr. Isabel Bilotta, Head of Learning and Innovation at Deutser, recently worked with our Distinguished Scholars Program in a lunchtime seminar. She shared her Ph.D. research and publications, which center on fostering belonging, enhancing performance and well-being, and developing effective leaders in organizations. This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to hear a practicing researcher discuss her work, which closely aligns with the work of Brené Brown in her book Dare to Lead, our DSP common reader for this school year. Thank you to Deutser for sharing Dr. Bilotta with us! -
HC Presents Christian Leadership Conference
Teacher leaders from around the United States gathered at Houston Christian High School for the Emerging Christian Leadership Conference in February 2024. Keynoted by Dr. Matt Thomas and Dr. Jay Ferguson, the Conference focused on growing leaders through panel discussions and breakout sessions. Attendees utilized embedded reflection activities to capture key phrases, book recommendations, and communication strategies. Participants created a plan focused on action steps with a timeline for the completion of activities. Houston Christian High School and The Bush Center for Scholars & Leaders loved hosting all of our future teacher leaders!
To learn more about the Emerging Christian Leadership Conference, please visit our conference webpage.
Programs of Distinction
List of 4 items.
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Distinguished Scholars Program
The Distinguished Scholars Program provides high-achieving students with an enhanced learning environment where they can explore and build the skill set needed to become the next generation of leaders. Mirroring collegiate graduate programs, Scholars select a topic of choice to research mastering the building blocks of communication as they strive to learn more and explore different perspectives culminating in a written thesis and oral defense.
Click here to learn more. -
Passport to Lead
All Houston Christian students participate in the Passport to Lead program. Those who are able to exhibit their engagement with an understanding of the leadership outcomes will be recognized with a leadership distinction on their diploma at the culmination of the four-year journey. Passport to Lead began in the fall of 2006 to lead, monitor, and evaluate program effectiveness.
Click here to learn more. -
Innovation Studies
We understand innovation as the process of creating thoughtful solutions to important questions. Innovation runs throughout the story of Houston Christian’s beginning and its remarkable growth. As our world is everchanging, we see the need for industry, finance, governments, and educators to innovate. This experience confirmed our belief that cultivating an innovative mindset is essential to equip our students to shape their future. We are intentionally integrating innovation into the Houston Christian leadership experience.
Click here to learn more. -
International Student Leadership Program
The International Student Leadership Program brings together future leaders through the study of the world’s most impactful leaders and how they accomplished their life’s work. You will conduct case studies, cultural analysis, and develop your own leadership philosophy so you can walk into any scenario with confidence.
Click here to learn more.
Leadership & Faculty for Scholars & Leaders
Director of The Bush Center for Scholars and Leaders
mdickerson@houstonchristian.org
Texas A&M University - B.S.
University of Houston - M.Ed.
Passport to Lead Program Director; Leadership Studies Instructor
scubbler@houstonchristian.org
Trinity University - B.S.
Naval Postgraduate School - Homeland Defense
Distinguished Scholars Program Associate Director; Distinguished Scholars Program Instructor; English Instructor
jlaflamme@houstonchristian.org
Eastern Connecticut State University - B.A.
Sacred Heart University - M.A.T.
Adjunct Faculty
The University of Texas - B.S.
The University of Texas - J.D.
Innovation Programs Associate Director; Innovation Studies Instructor; Science Instructor
lhawkins@houstonchristian.org
University of North Carolina-Greensboro - B.A.
Montana State University - M.S.
Science Instructor; Innovation Studies Instructor; Tennis Assistant Coach
mbredeweg@houstonchristian.org
Grand Valley State University - B.S.
Grand Valley State University - M.Ed.
Math Instructor; Distinguished Scholars Program Advisor
mcopeland@houstonchristian.org
Louisiana State University - B.S.
Bible Instructor; Leadership Instructor; JV Baseball Head Coach; Football Assistant Coach
jfaircloth@houstonchristian.org
Sam Houston State University - B.S.
Sam Houston State University - M.A.
English Instructor; Distinguished Scholars Program Instructor
koliver@houstonchristian.org
University of Kansas - B.A.
University of Houston - M.A.
World Languages Instructor: Latin; Distinguished Scholars Program Instructor
bmclane@houstonchristian.org
The Evergreen State College - B.A.
Carnegie Mellon University - M.A.
University of Pennsylvania - P.B.A.C.C.
St. John's College - M.A.
University of Pittsburgh - Ph.D.
Education Technology Specialist; Department Chair, Science; Science Instructor; Robotics Instructor
lrieke@houstonchristian.org
Northwest Nazarene University - B.S.
Columbia International University - M.Ed.
Leadership Studies Instructor
jrollins@houstonchristian.org
Wheaton College - B.A.
National University - M.A.
Chaplain; Distinguished Scholars Program Advisor
mskinner@houstonchristian.org
Houston Baptist University - B.A.
Houston Baptist University - M.A.
World Languages Instructor: Latin; Leadership Instructor
twoods@houstonchristian.org
University of Missouri-Columbia - B.A.
Covenant Theological Seminary - M.A.
