Peer Leaders at Central Gwinnett HS: Mentoring the next generation of leaders

At Central Gwinnett High School, the peer leader program is offered as a HOPE Scholarship-eligible year-long course. Students must be seniors in good academic standing, apply for the class the spring prior to their senior year, and obtain teacher recommendations.

In the spring prior to enrollment, the peer leaders host a student panel and campus tours for incoming freshmen at “Rising 9th Grade Parent Night,” and for a daytime visit from Jordan Middle School. The peer leaders also provide a Peer Leadership Conference to a select group of 8th graders at Moore Middle School. The program includes learning sessions and engagement exercises to strengthen positive character development and help incoming freshmen take a proactive approach to servant leadership and professional growth.

Peer leaders serve as mentors, tutors, and teaching assistants at several Central Gwinnett Cluster schools including Jenkins Elementary, Winn Holt Elementary, and Lawrenceville Elementary Schools. They visit their assigned cluster school every Wednesday and meet with their classes and/or mentees for one hour, to foster positive character development and provide academic support.

Throughout the school year, peer leaders work on their Pen Pal Program. They write notes to new transfer students in 10th through 12th grade to make the students feel welcomed, help them acclimate to the school culture, and encourage them to meet new people and get involved in something of interest. Through this Pen Pal Program, peer leaders also write cards to students returning from the GIVE Center to welcome them back to campus and encourage them to stay on track as they reacclimate to campus and work towards graduation.

“Among topics explored are the concepts of active listening, conflict mediation and problem-solving, understanding the positive and negative aspects of peer pressure, and relating personal responsibility to long- and short-range life and career goals,” adds Central Gwinnett High Peer Leader Teacher Nakaya Manning. “Peer Leaders learn and practice the elements of successful interactions by engaging in a variety of mentoring roles within the school community including small group discussions, one-on-one mentoring, student panels, large group presentations, and social-emotional learning initiatives.”

“One thing I love about peer leading is that I get to connect with the kids the way I wish somebody would have connected with me when I was their age,” says Danielle, Central Gwinnett Senior Class President and peer leader.