Peer Leaders At Warren Middle School

By M. Bivaletz

Photo credit: N. Drasin

At Warren Middle School, Dr. Susan Cooper and Mrs. Lynn Degen are the advisors to a group of 20 strong and proud peer leaders. Together, they support the students by facilitating presentations from a variety of service organizations to help the youth develop leadership skills.

In early November, Neal Drasin from the Warren Lions Club​ visited the middle school. Speaking to the students about the Lions Club as a service organization​, he​​ ​reviewed the leadership skills needed to be an officer. ​The Lions Club does a lot within the Warren Township community!

The following week, Lisa Galondardo, from the United Way of North Jersey,​ ​ran a speaker presentation​ ​on ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), ​which ​represents the growing number of individuals and families who are working, but are unable to afford the basic necessities of housing, food, child care, health care, and transportation.

Galondardo also presented a financial literacy activity which helped highlight the financial problems of some residents in Somerset County.

Programs like these, and many others throughout the year, will ​heighten students’ awareness​ and​ understand​ing​ of a variety of community issues, with the challenge being for the peer leaders to use their leadership​ skills​ to improve the world.

The Peer Leaders program as a whole, is geared towards taking identified school leaders and giving them opportunities to develop and demonstrate leadership in various ways​.