>> BALDWIN COUNTY SCHOOLS
Lakeview Academy elementary school art teacher Joel Respess created a student role model group for fifth graders called the Ambassadors Program.
Respess, with the support of Lakeview Academy Principal Shawne Holder and Baldwin County Superintendent Noris Price, created the Ambassadors Program as a way to teach leadership and promote mentorship within Lakeview Academy. Fifth graders within the program are called Ambassadors and learn about leadership around the county alongside mentoring and being leaders to the third and fourth graders.
“We hand pick our ambassadors so there is no application,” said Respess. “Ambassadors have to make it easy for their teachers to teach and easy for their classmates to learn. Ambassadors include students who often quietly do the right thing, make good decisions, show respect and make our schools and classrooms better. The honor of being an ambassador under these requirements is very meaningful.”
Last year was the inaugural year for the program. A total of 60 students were accepted to be ambassadors.
According to Respess, as a part of their duties the ambassadors visited third and fourth graders to teach them about leadership and how to excel in school. Ambassadors may do this by presenting, speaking, or participating in activities with lower grades.
“We believe students often listen best to their peers. That is why I teach leadership to our ambassadors and then allow them to share their skills and experiences with the third and fourth graders,” said Respess. “It is more meaningful for a student to hear about school, how to be successful, and more from someone they can relate to and is close to their age. It also promotes interactivity between the grades, which is always a good thing.”
Ambassadors can be recognized by their special branded coat. The coats were originally funded by $5,000 donated by local businesses including Butler Ford, 5 Star Toyota Milledgeville, Childre Nissan, Exchange Bank, Century & Trust Bank and Citizens’ Bank. Starting this school year, Ambassadors were required to buy their jackets.
“Their jackets are a symbol that they are a leader and are everything an ambassador stands for. Wearing that jacket is a privilege and when a student gets in trouble, they are not allowed to wear the jacket for a specified amount of time as punishment,” said Respess. “I want these jackets to be a symbol of why the students were picked and so other students can recognize who good role models are within the building. It is also a symbol of honor for students when they wear the jackets in public.”
This school year, Respess selected 60 students to be ambassadors. Alongside their normal on-campus visitations and meetings, the Ambassadors Program has grown to include off-campus days. In December, ambassadors visited Milledgeville City Hall and met with City Manager Hank Griffeth, GMC Alumni staff Craig Portwood, and Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan to learn about leadership, civic duty, responsibility and integrity. Then, on April 18, ambassadors attended a Leadership Learning Program led by Georgia College & State University (GCSU) Director of Leadership Programs Harold Mock.
Ambassadors met with GCSU student leaders and were able to visit GCSU classes that were in-session.
“It’s important to teach about leadership in-school and allow them to be leaders for younger grades but I wanted to expand the program to be more involved with the community.
These off-campus days allow our students to learn from community leaders and bond with the wider community,” said Respess. “I am very thankful for everyone who taught during and supported these off-campus days. They have been very beneficial to the ambassadors.”
Respess hopes to continue to develop the Ambassador Program and offer more opportunities to future ambassadors. He is very gracious for the support of Lakeview Academy, the Baldwin County School System and the community towards this program and expressed that the students truly grow over the year through that support.
“When ambassadors graduate from the program and begin their journey to middle school, you can see how far they have come. They learn a lot from being an ambassador and working with their fellow students,” said Respess. “I am very proud to have started the Ambassadors Program and I can’t to see it continue to grow.”