SAFFORD — United Way partnered with Safford High School’s Link Crew Program to support its endeavor to make the transition from middle school to high school more successful for incoming freshmen.
Link Crew is a support program that Safford High School started in the 2016-17 school year after the Eastern Arizona College Gear UP coordinator suggested a partnership with the school to help all incoming freshmen classes. The program focuses on aiding freshmen through their first year of high school.
The Link leaders have all experienced the struggles that come with being a freshman, so they are eager to make sure others don’t encounter the same problems. The program is made up of many different individuals: coordinators, commissioners, link leaders and A-teamers.
Coordinators are teachers who have been trained and qualified to teach the class. Commissioners are seniors who are experienced link leaders who are chosen by the coordinators to be leaders of the Link leaders. Link leaders are junior and senior students who are chosen through an extensive application and interview process, trained, and partnered with a fellow Link leader, and then put in charge of a group of freshmen. A-teamers are sophomore students who are chosen by the commissioners to help assist in various activities. Every individual in the Link Crew is a vital part of the program.
Potential Link leaders fill out an application to join the program, and the coordinators interview the student. Coordinators ask questions such as, “What would you do in this certain type of situation?” and “What are your weaknesses while working with others?”
After the interview is over, the coordinators running the program will hand-pick the students they believe are the best and most qualified to help the freshmen class. This is a very crucial process for creating the best possible chance for student success during their transition.
Chosen Link leaders spend the year teaching lessons in classes, checking up on their freshmen face to face, and through texts and social media to encourage them to get involved, meet people, get help with tutors, attend RRE Fridays, talk about their problems, manage their time and provide other guidance that may be needed. The leaders are trained to deal with many issues and instructed to take major issues to the appropriate individuals to make sure the freshmen get the help they need.
The program saw a big difference immediately. In its first year, the school saw a 74-percent reduction in discipline issues in the first semester alone for freshmen. Once again this year so far, it has continued to make a huge difference not only with the freshmen, but with the entire school. The goal is to make the school a better place.
