Feb. 17, 2016 -- Roxboro Middle School recognizes that in order for its students to succeed at the tricky task of middle school, they need to believe in themselves and have the confidence to take risks in the classroom. The school also follows Superintendent Dr. Talisa Dixon’s idea of forming “connections before content” and works to build trusting relationships between adults and students. Last week, the building’s E.L.I.T.E. Gentlemen club was featured for its work guiding boys into positive leaders. This week, we look at an equivalent group available to girls: the Ladies of Leadership.
The mission of Ladies of Leadership is “to assist young ladies with the development of positive self-esteem, enhancement of their global perspective and fulfillment of their civic duties.” Teacher and lead advisor Anna Gregory, the building’s Literacy Support Teacher, founded the group at Monticello in 2006 because she saw too many young women lacking confidence – in themselves, in their school work and in their relationships.
“Middle school can be a tough time for all students,” said fellow LOL advisor and seventh grade Humanities teacher Wendy Ward-Price. “Girls can sometimes feel inadequate. We’re trying to give them a voice, teaching them to be proud of who they are.”
These teachers have good reason for concern. According to a global study commissioned by Dove’s Self-Esteem project, six out of ten girls have opted out of activities, including school, because they were worried about the way they look. And that low self-esteem impacts their school work, their participation in extracurricular activities, the choices they make around disordered eating, drinking, smoking, and bullying, and certainly their peer and romantic relationships. The Ladies of Leadership shows Roxboro’s young women that they have value as full human beings, and that they get to define that value for themselves.
The 32 young women in the club gather for monthly meetings centered around a specific theme, such as Positive Self-Image, Healthy Eating, or Celebrating All Cultures. They also meet for a weekly grade level Lunch Bunch, a more causal opportunity to bond with one another under the guidance of one of their four advisors: Gregory, Ward-Price, eighth grade math teacher Tiffany Jordan-Shaw and eighth grade ELA teacher Shenisha Austin.
The girls in a recent lunch bunch shared how powerful it is to feel like you belong to something. “It feels like we’re sisters,” said seventh grader Giovannina Mangino, whose friends call her Nina. “We don’t always agree, but we still always respect each other.”
Classmate Maia Langan agreed, “You can be yourself around anyone in the group and there aren’t any judgments.”
Participation can influence how they perform in class as well. Princess Elliott says that LOL has given her the confidence to speak up. “I’ve learned from the people in this group because they’re so brave to speak out and I’m so shy.”
Lillian Banks said, “This has given me the tools for how to present myself and how to behave.”
Amauri Stover has even gained specific academic skills from participating: “Tori taught me how to cross-multiply!” she said of fellow Lady Toriyonna Pollard, who nodded and said, “We know how to work as team.”
The Ladies of Leadership don't only focus on strengthening themselves, but on strengthening their community as well. They created a Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful poster campaign within their building to promote self-esteem among all students. And each spring, they participate in a fundraiser for a cause that has touched someone in the group. In recent years, they’ve joined in the fight for breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen Foundation as well as supporting Rainbow Babies’ & Children’s Hospital.
“We want to empower them to see themselves as leaders in their communities,” says Gregory. “They need strength and self-worth in all aspects of their lives.” According to the club’s guiding principles, “Participants will become skilled decision makers who learn to value themselves and others as well as give back to their community.”
When asked who they would recommend for the group, Tori – who had previously admitted that she “used to be rude, but this club taught me how to be kind” said, “Girls who are lonely and need new friends. I feel bad when I see people sitting all by themselves.”
Tomisha Pierce captured the heart of the Ladies of Leadership when she added, “This group is for people who don’t know that they’re leaders but they really are.”