Minuteman High Students Join Peer Leadership Program

LEXINGTON, MA — During the spring closure caused by the pandemic, students in Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School’s Peer Leadership Program continued to find ways to stay connected and serve as role models for younger students. The program is one of many activities beyond the classroom that encourages students to cultivate their maturity, sense of responsibility and character in ways that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

“The students gain a sense of why it's important to make positive connections with people,” said English teacher Terri O’Brien, who is a co-advisor of the Peer Leadership Program. “We put a lot of emphasis on the idea that they can create the culture of the school through their example. The Peer Leaders provide freshmen with strong and stable mentor relationships that will positively influence their experience and development.”

During the closure, Peer Leaders began a “Connect2Community Clubhouse” where students were able to connect to their classmates virtually with those who shared similar career interests. The junior Peer Leaders facilitated conversations with freshmen that provided a much-needed space to connect with one another.

“Terri and I decided four years ago that a program like ours was essential,” said Anita Currier, a culinary arts instructor and co-advisor of the group. “Our model has evolved organically. Each year, we try new activities and ways to get kids together. We also process student feedback about what they thought was successful, and more importantly, what was not successful.”

Near the end of each school year, an assembly is held for sophomores about being a Peer Leader when they are juniors. As a result of a virtual process, more than 30 students were selected as Peer Leaders for the upcoming school year.