Peer Leaders at Lanier HS: Fostering relationships one student at a time

At Lanier High School, 22 peer leaders who are juniors and seniors are currently taking a "Peer Leadership" class. They are nominated by coaches, teachers, club sponsors, or peers. They also help lead Lanier's Student Leadership Team (LSLT), which includes serving as room captains for the freshmen mentoring program, planning out freshmen orientation, and participating in various community service initiatives throughout the cluster.

Lanier High peer leaders provide every 9th grade student with an upperclassman mentor to meet with weekly during advisement, and academic and social support through conversations on topics such as communication with teachers, building relationships with peers, organizational skills, goal setting, and gratitude. They build relationships with students at the Lanier Cluster elementary and middle schools through leading monthly workshops for elementary and middle school peer leaders, hosting the Lanier Cluster Leadership Conferences. They also provide small-group and one-on-one mentoring and tutoring with identified students and special education students. These peer leaders also build community at the school through events during lunch and Academy Time events, hosting welcoming events for transfer students to Lanier High, and working to improve communication between various clubs and athletic organizations.

“The mission of Lanier's peer leadership class is to cultivate an atmosphere of servant leadership in order to positively influence the students and staff of the Lanier community,” says Lanier High Peer Leadership Teacher Collin Jones.