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MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) — A few high school students have found another reason to go to school every day, thanks to a peer mentoring class developed by special education teacher Cory Singleton.
Singleton, who has worked for the Moscow School District in Idaho for nearly seven years, had a specific reason for working toward the class since her first years at Moscow High School.
"I was a peer mentor in high school," Singleton said. "I remember my first experience. I was in a choir class with a particular young girl, and she didn't really talk to anybody. She talked to me twice, and it was the most exciting thing in the world to me. It was an experience I remembered and really held dear to me."
When Singleton began working in special education at Moscow High, the school didn't have a peer mentor program — something she was determined to correct.
Although her first attempts didn't go any further than the discussion phase, Singleton said eventually she was able to get students involved with their peers in special education in the form of teaching assistants.
"But I didn't use the TAs like the rest of the teachers did," she said.
While many TAs helped teachers by making photocopies and performing other busy work, Singleton said the assistants she was granted were assigned to work with individual special needs students, whether it be helping with assignments or attending classes with them.
"So many of the kids don't need an adult with them at PE class, but they still need somebody to keep an eye on them a little bit, to make sure they get on the bus, make sure they're staying involved. Instead of an adult making sure they're involved, it's one of their peers," Singleton said.
Once she discovered how much both parties benefited from the pairings, Singleton worked with the school counselor to enable mentors to receive a grade for their efforts.
"I said they deserve a letter grade for this. They work hard," she said.
Once she was given the OK to move forward with a peer mentoring class, Singleton said she spent about 48 hours creating a syllabus and assignments for mentors to complete in addition to spending time with the students.
These included learning about confidentiality, how to deal with challenging situations and, most importantly, seeing students with special needs as people first.
"We make sure we always put the person first and the disability second," she said.
That's a lesson many peer mentors are taking to heart.
Sophomore Brooke Staszkow said the peer mentoring class is a bright spot in her day, as the students are typically in such good cheer.
"They love to dance and I love to dance," she said. "I really enjoy seeing them every day.
"I definitely didn't have very much experience working with people with disabilities before this. Now I have a good understanding of how to interact with people who are different from me. It's important for both mentor and the student to interact with each other and enjoy each other's company."
Staszkow said she'll probably take the class again next semester.
Nona Meyer, a senior, said she has taken the class for the past two years and was part of the Special Education Department's Buddy Club before that.
What began as filling a slot in her class schedule became a major part of her life, she said.
"I just adore working with all of the people," she said. "Special connections you get working with your peers and seeing them smile every day is absolutely the best part."
However enjoyable it can be, the class is also hard work as it's often difficult to grow any meaningful friendship.
Senior Austin Durham began his experience in the class last year with a challenge.
"Last year I was good friends with a couple of the kids, and I really wanted to be part of the class," Durham said. "I was put in with Craig and he's a pretty shy kid. Every day I would talk to him and call him 'bro' and try to be friends, and I could tell it made him feel accepted."
Durham said his mentee was very shy for most of the year, but as time wore on he began to accept and reciprocate Durham's friendship.
"Towards the end of the year we were really close. He really opened up to me," Durham said.
Durham and Craig Gee remain friends and still enjoy their time together.
For Gee, one of the best parts is watching movies with Durham.
"It was fun," Gee said. "He's cool. He helps me. I need help sometimes, who doesn't need help?"
Durham said taking part in the class has helped him as well.
"It's opened up a lot of new friendships. The way I look at everyone now, it's different," he said.
"It's definitely a worthwhile experience, connecting with these kids. Anyone who has the opportunity should try it out. It's definitely something you want to do."
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Information from: The Moscow-Pullman Daily News, http://www.dnews.com
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