After spending a year partnered up with Olympic gold medalist Christian Taylor, seventh graders at Harriet Ross Tubman School in Buffalo are taking skills like honesty and responsibility with them - and crediting the Classroom Champions program for making it happen. Time Warner Cable News reporter Rebecca Vogt checks in with Classroom 319.
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Middle school can be an interesting time in a young person's life. Amid trying to fit in and growing pains, having someone to look up to and learn from is critical. For a group of students at Harriet Ross Tubman School, Olympian Christian Taylor was their guy.
"Our students need good role models. Someone that's young, dedicated, working hard so they can see how important that is,” said teacher Noelle Failing.
Classroom 319 and Failing has participated in Classroom Champions since September. The program pairs students with Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Taylor would often check in via video chat while students would get to ask him questions about his life.
"Junior high is a tough time. To have an Olympian by their side, help them through that struggle and those processes is pretty great to see,” said Buffalo-native and Classroom Champions President and CEO Steve Mesler.
Every month, the classroom received a character trait to build upon. Failing said some of the strongest months were honesty, teamwork, and community.
"We did a project with a church right next door. We did a food drive and helped collect the food, worked with the pastor there; it'll reach our local community which I thought was important,” said Failing.
Student Demar Johnson said he'll take what he learned to the next grade and beyond.
"I'm going to take responsibility with me, and courage so I won't have to be scared going into eighth grade,” said Johnson.
Failing adds classroom participation also increased as the partnership flourished. Several other teachers took note and plan to sign up for Classroom Champions for next year.
Third-grade teacher Rachael Rizzo said, "If you start building those social skills and character traits at 9, 10 years old and work their way up it'll better themselves academically and personally."
Something Mesler likes to see as he looks to implement the program in even more Buffalo schools.
"We want to see the teachers and principals seeing the value in what Classroom Champions is bringing to kids who need an extra piece in school to make it more engaging for them,” said Mesler.