ATA College Prep Announces the 2024-2025 Annual Theme: Integrity in Leadership
Integrity in Leadership is allegiance to values, not power or people. It emphasizes the importance of adhering to core virtues such as honesty, fairness, citizenship, hard work, and respect and learning to let them be your guiding principles.
Integrity in leadership is a way of life—a decision to align with higher values and let them lead. An invitation to humility, Integrity in Leadership reminds us that we are not the center of all things. It encourages us to take our place in the world guided by higher principles, to make the most of our potential, and ultimately to serve others through that lens.
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CP Summer Reading – Each summer, the CP Humanities team assigns one book in July and one book in August. One is designed to connect to the annual theme and serve as a way to connect the entire community under a common reading experience, while the other will connect specifically to each student’s upcoming social science class.
July assignment: read a biography of a public figure who leads with integrity. Below, find a list of options split into high school and middle school lists. Select one that you have not previously read, purchase a hard copy, and read it before August 1st when you’ll get a second reading assignment. Don’t see a book that grabs your interest? Find your own biography of a person who leads with integrity and suggest it for approval!
High School
- “Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different” by Karen Blumenthal
- Synopsis: This biography explores the life of Steve Jobs, highlighting his innovative spirit, determination, and integrity in the technology industry.
- Themes: Innovation, perseverance, leadership.
- “I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World” by Malala Yousafzai
- Synopsis: Malala’s memoir about her fight for girls’ education in Pakistan and her courageous stand against the Taliban.
- Themes: Education, resilience, activism.
- “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot
- Synopsis: The story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were taken without her knowledge and used for scientific breakthroughs, and the ethical issues surrounding it.
- Themes: Ethics, medical history, social justice.
- “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” by Bryan Stevenson
- Synopsis: Bryan Stevenson’s journey as a lawyer fighting for justice for the wrongly accused and marginalized.
- Themes: Justice, resilience, integrity.
- “Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela” by Nelson Mandela
- Synopsis: Nelson Mandela’s autobiography detailing his struggle against apartheid in South Africa and his leadership rooted in integrity.
- Themes: Justice, resilience, leadership.
- “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank
- Synopsis: Anne Frank’s poignant diary written during her time hiding from the Nazis during World War II.
- Themes: Courage, resilience, hope.
- “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope” by William Kamkwamba
- Synopsis: William Kamkwamba’s inspiring story of building a windmill to save his village from famine.
- Themes: Innovation, resilience, leadership.
- “Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race” by Margot Lee Shetterly
- Synopsis: The story of African American female mathematicians at NASA who broke barriers with their work.
- Themes: Perseverance, innovation, equality.
- “Becoming” by Michelle Obama
- Synopsis: Michelle Obama’s memoir about her life, her values, and her journey to becoming the First Lady of the United States.
- Themes: Leadership, resilience, integrity.
- “Gandhi: An Autobiography – The Story of My Experiments with Truth” by Mahatma Gandhi
- Synopsis: Gandhi’s own account of his life, his philosophy, and his unwavering commitment to nonviolence and truth.
- Themes: Nonviolence, integrity, leadership.
- “The Fish That Ate The Whale” by Rich Cohen
- Synopsis: The fascinating, untold tale of Samuel Zemurray, the self-made banana mogul who went from penniless roadside banana peddler to kingmaker and capitalist revolutionary.
- Themes: Business, leadership, innovation.
- “Walt Disney: The Triumph of American Imagination” by Neal Gabler
- Synopsis: A deep dive into the life of Walt Disney, the man who built a synergistic empire combining film, television, theme parks, music, book publishing, and merchandise.
- Themes: Imagination, business innovation, leadership.
- “Andrew Carnegie” by David Nasaw
- Synopsis: A New York Times Bestseller on the rags to riches story of Andrew Carnegie, who rose from a bobbin boy in a cotton factory to become the richest man in the world.
- Themes: Wealth, industry, innovation.
- “The Snowball” by Alice Schroeder
- Synopsis: The only authorized biography of Warren Buffett, offering a detailed look into his life and business practices.
- Themes: Business, investment, perseverance.
- “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight
- Synopsis: Phil Knight’s memoir as the creator of Nike, detailing his journey of faith, determination, excellence, failure, and triumph.
- Themes: Entrepreneurship, resilience, innovation.
Middle School
Themes: Identity, resilience, creativity.g truth means embracing the lifelong journey of learning,” he said. “It’s about shaping how we read, how we ask questions, and how we treat each other.”
“Who Was Helen Keller?” by Gare Thompson
Synopsis: The inspiring story of Helen Keller, who overcame blindness and deafness to become a renowned author and activist.
Themes: Resilience, education, advocacy.
“El Deafo” by Cece Bell
Synopsis: A graphic memoir about Cece Bell’s experiences growing up hearing-impaired and finding her voice.
Themes: Identity, resilience, self-advocacy.
“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (Young Reader’s Edition)
Synopsis: The young reader’s edition of William Kamkwamba’s story of ingenuity and perseverance.
Themes: Innovation, resilience, leadership.
“The Story of Ruby Bridges” by Robert Coles
Synopsis: The story of Ruby Bridges, the first African American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South.
Themes: Courage, justice, resilience.
“The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science” by Joyce Sidman
Synopsis: The biography of Maria Merian, an artist and scientist who made significant contributions to entomology.
Themes: Science, innovation, integrity.
“Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World” by Sy Montgomery
Synopsis: The story of Temple Grandin, whose unique perspective as an autistic individual revolutionized livestock handling.
Themes: Innovation, resilience, advocacy.
“The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights” by Russell Freedman
Synopsis: The biography of Marian Anderson, a singer who broke racial barriers with her talent and courage.
Themes: Courage, equality, integrity.
“A Girl from Yamhill: A Memoir” by Beverly Cleary
Synopsis: Beverly Cleary’s memoir of her childhood and how her love of reading and writing led to her career as a beloved children’s author.
Themes: Perseverance, creativity, integrity.
“Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson
Synopsis: A memoir in verse about Jacqueline Woodson’s childhood, capturing her experiences and the development of her voice as a writer.
