Be The One Training Empowers Positive Student Leadership

Be The One (BTO) empowers positive student leadership by teaching students to be aware, think empathetically and offer help. A new BTO toolkit featuring visualization and listening exercises, a values exploration, and a literature review has been developed to train student leaders on ways to provide this help. The 2021/2022 Prefects will be the first to hone their skills using these tools. “Self-reflection and empathy are essential,” says David Finklestein, one of BTO’s teacher supervisors. “Our Prefects have good intentions, and this training will equip them with skills to excel in their goal.”

BTO is a student-led initiative to cultivate a safe and inclusive school culture. The BTO student council, teacher supervisors and faculty groups have created a three-module training program that supports the relationship between emotional intelligence and positive peer interactions. This work is part of Crescent’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Winter/Spring Action Plan. “The next phase of exploration will train each school division in the principles and practices of Be The One,” says Patricia Alviano, another teacher supervisor. “There is keen interest from our faculty to be accountability partners in this work to ensure the entire school benefits from increased intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community engagement.”