📰BIDDEFORD | BRCOT Student Leader Brings Real-World Leadership Lessons to SMS

By Karen Garnett, Contributing Writer

February 12, 2026 – Leadership doesn’t always come with a title—and that message is resonating loudly with eighth-grade students at Saco Middle School (SMS), thanks to the real-world experiences of Jackson Howard, a senior at Thornton Academy and an EMS student at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (BRCOT).

Howard is currently enrolled in BRCOT’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program and previously completed the Intro to Medical Science course as a junior—an experience he credits with helping shape his path toward the medical field. While his visits to Saco Middle School are not designed as recruitment efforts, the leadership skills he shares are deeply informed by the rigorous, hands-on training he has received through BRCOT, along with his real-world experience as an Old Orchard Beach surf rescue lifeguard.

Biddeford Regional Center of Technology’s Emergency Medical Services student and Thornton Academy Senior Jackson Howard speaks to eighth-grade students at Saco Middle School as part of the school’s Leadership and Sportsmanship unit in Wellness class.

Each quarter, Howard visits eighth-grade Wellness classes at Saco Middle School as part of the school’s Leadership and Sportsmanship unit. During his visits, he speaks candidly with students about leadership styles, teamwork, handling adversity and loss, managing conflict, and staying calm under pressure. He emphasizes that leadership is often demonstrated through small, everyday actions—choosing kindness, lifting others up, modeling integrity, and doing the right thing even when it’s difficult. The Wellness curriculum also includes intermediate cooking skills, empathy, etiquette and manners, and a student-favorite “Chopped Challenge.”

“Jackson’s message resonates because it’s authentic and attainable,” said Marie Soucy, Principal of Saco Middle School. “Our students see him as someone not much older than they are, yet already making meaningful choices and leading in many different ways. It helps them recognize that leadership isn’t just about positions or titles—it’s about everyday actions.”

A student body president at Thornton Academy, Jackson is also the founder and leader of the Communion of Christian Athletes, a leader in Active Minds (a mental health advocacy organization), a two-year SkillsUSA BRCOT representative, a varsity lacrosse player, and a working lifeguard. These roles, combined with his EMS training, have strengthened his communication skills and ability to lead with confidence—lessons he naturally weaves into his talks with middle school students.

Together, the partnership between Saco Middle School and the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology highlights how career and technical education experiences can extend beyond the classroom—shaping confident, compassionate leaders and inspiring younger students to see themselves as leaders in their own communities. Building on this connection, middle school students from across the region will have opportunities to visit BRCOT, tour the facility, and explore programs such as the Culinary Center.

“These experiences are about sparking that initial interest—the moment a student realizes, this could be my path,” said Paulette Bonneau, Director of the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology. “When students can see and experience what’s possible early on, it helps them discover their passions, make informed choices in high school, and understand the powerful role career and technical education can play in preparing them for meaningful futures.”

BRCOT is currently enrolling students for the 2026-2027 school year. For more information about BRCOT and its programs, visit https://www.biddefordschools.me/o/brct.