This article was published on Vindy.com on September 27, 2017 by Amanda Tonoli
YOUNGSTOWN
Liberty High School students are learning leadership skills as part of a pilot program called Lead2Feed.
Lead2Feed is a national student leadership program. It’s set up for use on any need identified by students that follows a format to address that need, explained Danielle Songer, a Liberty High School teacher.
The idea for the program started at Liberty with school staff who were simply trying to fill a student need with more hands-on education and a leadership-teaching class, said Akesha Joseph, Liberty High School principal.
Joseph got together a team of students to teach other students, as well as themselves, leadership skills.
“This was one of the first opportunities these students have had to really learn what it takes to be a leader and see the difference they make,” Songer said. “It was awesome seeing the students come together and work on something bigger than them.”
In working together toward a common goal, Songer said she hopes they learn to show respect while being leaders, having good attitudes and working with others to fix behavioral problems. Students first had to identify needs of the school district and surrounding community, then they chose one they would like to address and eventually devise and execute a plan, Joseph said.
Students chose to create a mentorship program for younger students.
“It became a big-brother or big-sister type of program and expanding it beyond the classroom,” Songer said. “They’re mentoring elementary schoolers to become better people.”
Shon Haydu, a senior, felt that it was his responsibility to impress upon younger students the importance of being a good student and a good person.
“We know what the seniors were to us when we were [the freshmen’s] age, and as seniors it’s our job to set the perfect example for them and give a real eye opener to the children about the world,” he said.
Other students got sheer enjoyment out of being able to be a part of the younger students’ lives.
“I just like seeing the joy on the kids’ faces,” said 11th-grader Derek Gilcher.
Joseph said the high- school students found a fun way to interact and focus on academics with younger students.
“They are fostering school spirit and school unity,” Joseph said.
She added that she finds it amazing to see students realize their own empowerment and influence and even the impact they have.
“It’s about training our students to be leaders both in the school and out,” Joseph said. “It also prepares them for secondary success – beyond the high-school walls. … I love listening to them because you learn so much about what they feel and what they think the needs are and what should be done about them.”
Songer said she is just enamoured with the giving nature she’s found in her students.
“This was one of the first opportunities these students have had to really learn what it takes to be a leader and see the difference they make,” she said. “It’s just a really exciting time to be at Liberty.