Have you ever been in need of a friendly adult face at school? That’s the goal of the Pride Leaders – staff in the Dulaney building who act as adult mentors for students. 

The Pride Leaders, officially known as student safety assistants, are part of a new safety initiative by Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS). During the summer of 2022, BCPS held their annual Safe Schools Summit and conceived the idea in light of increasing student disruption. 

“Those student safety assistants will be there to form relationships with students to try to prevent things from happening, and when things happen, to prevent them from escalating and to resolve things,” said April Lewis, executive director for the BCPS Office of School Safety, to WBAL-TV.

In effect, these student safety assistants are a first line of defense in maintaining order in schools. Their role, as defined by the county, is to act as a less aggressive form of security, including redirecting students who are wandering the halls. 

It’s no secret that their role is a form of discipline: a hiring statement put out by BCPS said that experience in security is “desirable.” At Dulaney, however, Principal Sam Wynkoop envisions a different direction for the program.

“What I need is someone who, if confronted with a situation, is able to help mentor the student, to connect with the kid, as opposed to being like a penal system,” said Wynkoop.

Disliking the name “student safety assistant,” Wynkoop rebranded them “pride leaders,” named after a lion’s pride, the group that lions travel in. Instead of just redirecting a student when they are already in trouble, Wynkoop hopes that the Pride Leaders can help a student avoid trouble in the first place.

“I don’t need hammers around. I need nets,” Wynkoop said.

There isn’t exactly a “typical” routine for the Pride Leaders; it is entirely dependent on the needs of students that day. Sometimes they will assist a student who is depressed; at other points, they will redirect students and help them get to class. They also assist students who are struggling academically and help them come up with a plan to get their grades back on track.

Most importantly, they help students foster positive relationships with adults and their peers in the building.

“We’re not here to get you in trouble, we’re here to help everybody…If they want to open up to us, we’re all ears,” said Jeff Thomas, one of the Pride Leaders.

When asked what were the greatest rewards of their work, the answer was unanimous.

“We get a sense of gratitude with the students because we do make a difference with them…If we change one person, it makes all the difference in the world,” said Blaine Vance, another Pride Leader.

The program is made possible because of federal grant money, and both Thomas and Vance hope that it continues to be funded: they spoke about the appreciation that teachers have expressed towards them. Wynkoop echoes a similar sentiment and hopes that he can give the Pride Leaders a physical space in which they can work with groups of students.

“Our greater need is character development or civility. Our greater need is mentorship. Our greater need is connection,” Wynkoop said.

With its philosophy of mentorship and mediation, it is clear that the Pride Leader program has made – and hopefully will continue to make – a transformative impact on the Dulaney community.