New Sarpy’s Mudbug Mentors recently received an honorary proclamation from the St. Charles Parish Council because of their outstanding leadership skills.
What’s even more surprising, is that those mentors are third grade students, chosen by their classmates.
Three facilitators, Pat Smith, Tiffany Cologne and Sandra Washington, formed the program because they want the children to gain leadership qualities that will be useful through school and life.
“We saw a need to prepare our students for leadership before they move on to Ethel Schoefner,” Washington said. “The program was started from the idea of peer mediators.”
Smith says this program is important because it teaches students all about leadership.
“We are focusing on leadership skills through the use of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” she said. “Each third grade class discussed what they thought makes a good leader. They then provided examples of people they thought were good leaders.”
Smith says the students were asked to select classmates they thought would make good leaders. That helped the staff identify two students to represent each of the seven third grade classrooms.
Smith says mentorship is important for students because it helps them learn how to become accountable to themselves and others.
“This is a skill that must be taught if we expect our students to grow into responsible adults who don’t blame others for the actions they choose,” Smith said. “It teaches them to be responsible for their own learning.”
The Mudbugs have participated in a leadership networking-breakfast where they networked with eight community leaders from both St. Charles Parish and Orleans Parish.
“During the breakfast, students were allowed to informally share in rich conversation with these leaders asking a variety of questions about leadership,” Smith said. “After the breakfast, presentations were made by Keith Keller of Motiva on initiative, Eliza Eugene of River Region Realty on integrity and Ryan Burks of Rycars Construction.”
Students, along with their assigned adult mentors, gathered in small groups and processed the new information and addressed the presenters with a question or a comment.
“The students help classmates work through small problems and sometimes lead whole class groups in discussions,” Smith said. “The Mudbug Mentors are responsible for the school’s calendar that is posted on the wall outside the school’s office.”
Smith says that the calendar marks all of the events that are going on during that month and the children are the writers and illustrators of the information.
Councilwoman Wendy Benedetto was one of the community leaders that participated in the networking-breakfast with the children.
“She was truly impressed by the maturity level, intellect and seriousness of these students,” Smith said. “The idea that we see the need and the importance of teaching students how to be proactive and productive in their decision making and realizing that our schools in partnership with our community stakeholders are viable in the true development of lifelong learners.”
Smith says that teaching students about goal setting, overcoming obstacles and setting limits make them better students. That way, better learning can occur.
“Understanding that having an end in mind and thinking win-win makes students define their goals before they start,” she said. “and then starting with a positive attitude can help to create productive learners. After all, we know attitude can determine your altitude.”
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