Nov. 7, 2023—This past Friday, Nov. 3, at Intermediate South, students of all grade levels trained on becoming LEADERS.

From 3 to 8 p.m., sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students enjoyed team-building exercises as well as direct instruction, all geared toward teaching them how to become peer mediators. After all, LEADERS—or, more specifically, Loyal Educated Advisors Developing Essential Real Solutions—know how to mediate conflicts.

This elite group of participating students had been recommended by their teachers, and are now tasked with the new responsibility of being held accountable as role models throughout the Intermediate South Seminole community. They must be up to date on their assignments and, as the T-shirts they've earned read, must always “Be part of the solution, not the problem.”

During a mediation session, LEADERS work as partners to assist their peers to find possible solutions without taking sides. Conflict resolution takes place during school hours, and all efforts are made to not pull the students from the core content classes. They are responsible for any missed work.

“Since Intermediate South opened 18 years ago, this program has been a success, and is an integral part of our identity and legacy,” said LEADERS advisor Christine Tamaro.

As a rite of passage, High School South students as well as district graduates return to their middle school alma mater to volunteer and teach new trainees.

“The skills that Seminole South LEADERS learn stay with them for the rest of their lives,” said Tamaro.