A Big Buddy Little Buddy Program Helps Students and Teachers in Monte Vista

Talk to any teacher and you’ll hear a number of challenges they face—long hours, little funding, often a lack of support. Following the coronavirus pandemic, teachers have been highlighting one growing issue in particular: student behavior. Many teachers have been reporting more challenges handling student behavior, which they link to the social and learning impacts of the pandemic. Teachers at Monte Vista’s Bill Metz Elementary have been among those who have noticed a change. A few of the school’s teachers came up with an idea to create a local “Big Buddy Little Buddy” program that would connect elementary students with high schoolers who could serve as mentors and positive role models. One of the teachers, a previous LOR champion, reached out to LOR for help kick-starting the project. LOR’s funding will help the school finance local field trips and pay stipends to the program’s trainers, as well as purchase art supplies, snacks, and meals for participants and their families. The hope is that, by building positive connections with adults, the school can improve support for younger students and keep classrooms focused on learning.