SEC Women in Leadership Conference is a slam dunk success for local players

Lauren Snider Thompson, an assistant principal at Creekside Intermediate School in Dexter and girls’ varsity basketball coach for the Dreadnaughts, has worked hard, smart and with purpose in earning important leadership roles in her work and community.

And she would like to see more women not only follow in her footsteps, but take even longer strides and greater leaps when it comes to leadership and empowerment in every phase of life. She also would like to see more diversity in the sport she coaches and in all athletics – and beyond.

In 2018, out of the 72,496 head basketball coaches in the United States, only 18.5 percent were women and of that small percentage, 68.7 percent of female head coaches were white. In addition, in the last 10 years women account for 21.9 percent of C-Suite Jobs (executive-level managers within a company).

“Seeing women in leadership roles and coaching allows our younger female students to envision what ‘can be’ and broadens their visions of their possible selves,” Thompson says. “It is difficult to imagine what you cannot see.”

Thompson says that given the current social climate of our country and area, it is imperative to provide a diverse group of people (in this case, women) the opportunity to collaborate on creating a vision of what “could be.”

“Our students have voices and power, creating a space where they can share their voices and listen to one another helps to cultivate an inclusive culture in the SEC (Southeastern Conference) and empower young female leaders,” she says.

Thompson developed a slam dunk idea in December with the introduction of the first ever SEC Women in Leadership Conference held at the old Chelsea High School. Girls’ varsity basketball teams from all over the area, including Dexter, Saline and Ann Arbor, attended the “extremely successful” event.

“The SEC Women’s Leadership Conference was an amazing opportunity to provide inspiration, connection and leadership skills to over 150 young women within our league,” said Pioneer Athletic Director Eve Claar. “I look forward to continuing this event for years to come. Women face unique challenges on our path to leadership. It is important to come together and empower each other to realize our full potential.”

Thompson created the concept, and in collaboration with Claar and Leigh Ann Roehm (Saline varsity basketball coach), put together a schedule for the day.

“I pitched this idea to (Dexter Athletic Director) Mike Bavineau, who brought it to the SEC athletic directors,” Thompson said. “From there, Eve Claar and I reached out to Leigh Ann Roehm and began to plan. All of the varsity basketball teams in the SEC attended and it was a great day.”

The keynote speakers for the day were U-M Head Women’s Basketball Coach Kim Barnes and Saginaw Valley State University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Jenny Pruett.

“It was a super exciting day, and very well supported,” Thompson said.

Thompson’s session focused on Mindset/Real-Time Resilience; Roehm’s session addressed Networking/Relationships; Pioneer swimming and diving coach Stefanie Kerska talked about creating a team philosophy that guides your team to a championship season; Pioneer volleyball coach Allison Boone-Green focused on understanding leadership strengths; and Channon Washington addressed being an ally/interrupting bias.

This Tuesday (Feb. 1), all girls’ basketball teams in the SEC will being wearing their “Pow-her-ful” shirts, designed by Leigh Ann Roehm as their warm-ups to honor National Girls and Women in Sport Day. Dexter will host SEC Red rival Pioneer at 7 p.m.

THE PARTICIPANTS