LYNN — A student ambassador program will roll out at the city’s high schools next year, which administrators believe will benefit all students with its aim of creating welcoming and safe environments.
The program, which was announced at last week’s School Committee meeting, builds upon Lynn Public Schools’ focus on social-emotional learning (SEL) and embodies core values of the district, such as inclusiveness and collaborative relationships.
Prospective student leaders will learn and develop SEL skills, such as leadership, working collaboratively, appreciating diversity, self-motivation and perspective taking.
Ambassadors will then apply those skills through various “hands-on” responsibilities, such as helping new students transition to an unfamiliar school and providing mentorship for their younger peers, said Carolyn Troy, the district’s executive director of social-emotional learning.
“Many times, an ambassador could be a student’s first contact with the Lynn Public Schools,” said Troy. “Therefore, an ambassador should be a welcoming and enthusiastic representative of LPS. This initial contact and additional layer of support could ease the already challenging entry and transition for students new to the (district).”
The ultimate goal is for the student ambassadors to help create a “safe, welcoming environment” for all students entering the school, especially those who may be new to the country or city and don’t know anyone else, Troy said.
An ambassador could ease the social challenges facing those new students by providing company for them in the cafeteria during lunchtime or showing them around the school to get them more acquainted with their new surroundings, Troy said.
Although school administrators intend to implement the new program at the district’s high schools next school year, the framework for the program and what the role of a student ambassador will consist of is still in the discussion phase, Troy said.
The proposed framework includes two faculty advisors, who will monitor and support the launch of the program by providing opportunities for student ambassadors to apply their acquired SEL skills through interactions with their peers, faculty, families and school community, Troy said.
Troy said the program may mirror what’s already been done at Lynn Classical, where student ambassadors were introduced this year to support the school’s English Language Learners.
The ambassadors were incorporated as part of Classical’s state-required “turn-around plan,” as the school has been identified as one of the district’s worst performers based on its accountability results, which include MCAS scores, chronic absenteeism, high school completion and progress toward English proficiency.
Teachers who were matched with a student ambassador in their classrooms at Classical responded favorably to a survey about the program, saying that the support has been beneficial to their instruction. The student leaders, who provide translation, help give out directions, and help students with their classwork, also responded favorably about their experiences with the program, Troy said.
While the job description is still being developed for the program, Troy acknowledged that no matter what the responsibilities entail, if a student decides to become an ambassador, it will be a commitment.
School Committee member Michael Satterwhite said he thinks it’s a “wonderful program,” but was concerned that once the new high school design is implemented, students may choose to spend their time taking courses for college credit to lower future tuition costs instead of devoting their time to carrying out the responsibilities of an ambassador.
Committee member Brian Castellanos also spoke favorably about the program, but felt it should be incorporated at the district’s middle schools as well.
The program was introduced on the same evening that Troy provided an update on the district’s new K-5 social-emotional learning curriculum, “Caring School Community,” which had its “soft launch” this school year, with full implementation scheduled for next fall.
One of Superintendent Dr. Patrick Tutwiler’s district improvement goals, the curriculum is aimed at improving school culture and creating a sense of community for students. Children learn best in environments where their social, emotional, psychological and academic needs are met, Troy has said.
Administrators are in the midst of developing an SEL curriculum for the middle and high school grades.
