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It
is time to empower our
children.
It
is time to not only
promote character,
leadership, empathy and
compassion, but to
expect it and hold each
other accountable for
it.
Now
is the time to make a
difference in the world,
one child, one kind act,
at a time.
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Current High
School Junior, Team LEAD
member (8th Grade) and
2-Year High School
Mentor
"Your passion for
the program and the
kids and the mentors
is amazing.
You don't ask us to
be perfect.
You don't ask us to
be flawless.
You ask us to be
good people. . .to
uphold the simple
values that the rest
of the world has
sometimes forgotten.
You truly believe in
all of the mentors.
. .you believe that
we are able to
change one kid at a
time. That's
huge, especially
when I am sure that
there are some
mentors who do not
have anyone in their
lives who constantly
encourages them and
realizes their best
characteristics.
If you believe that
we are able to touch
a child's life in a
positive way, then
what other wonderful
things are we able
to achieve?
The program has
touched my life. . .it
changed my high school
experience in a way that
I never thought
possible. You have
taught me dedication; it
is so important to me to
come to the meetings and
to see my kids every
month. You have
taught me passion; I
believe so much in the
program and its values
and because of that, I
try to uphold those
values to the best of my
ability. You have
taught me how to be
confident; I am able to
step up and introduce a
new idea, my opinion,
speak at a conference,
and lead others.
You have taught me how
to be compassionate; I
am so eager to love and
to lead others.
But most importantly,
you have taught me how
to grow.
Throughout high school,
I have grown into a
person who knows
how to stand up for what
is right and to open my
heart to others.
You were able to teach
me all of this not in a
classroom, but in a
program that has truly
affected me in a
positive, meaningful
way."
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Contact Me for more
information
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TEAM LEAD
Leadership,
Empathy,
Accountability
and
Discussion
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Reflections
Michael's Legacy
 Randa is a Team LEAD
program coordinator in a
Northwest Indiana high
school in its first year
of Team LEAD
implementation. Her
husband, Michael, was
also a much-loved
teacher in the same
school system. Below,
in a letter to the
leadership team, Randa
explains why she chose
to be a Team LEAD
coordinator.
“For those of you who
are new to Team LEAD -
when Michael found out
that he only had two
months to live, he was
so positive about it. He
didn't want to leave the
boys or me but he just
kept assuring me that
good things were going
to happen to our family,
the school, the
community and the
churches. He couldn't
explain what it was, but
if he said that once he
literally said it
a thousand times during
the ten weeks that he
lived. For the first
year after his death I
searched and waited for
something, ANYTHING good
to happen, and I believe
with all my heart that
Team LEAD is one of
those things that
Michael was trying to
tell me about. Team
LEAD's purpose is to
teach others to lead
their lives exactly how
Michael lived his life -
with honor and
integrity. It is one of
the things that allows
me to carry on Michael's
message of hope. So,
forgive me if I make it
personal sometimes, but
for me, it is!
Thanks for all of your
time, your effort, your
patience, your
creativity, and your
willingness - there are
good things out there
just waiting to happen
- let's go for it!” |
In a note to
her
assistant
superintendent
of schools
after the
Team LEAD
teacher
workshop,
Carolyn P.
writes:
"Just
had to
write
you
about
yesterday
and say
THANK
YOU!!
As an
educator,
parent,
grandparent
and
human, I
was
deeply
moved by
the
presentation--I've
had the
tremendous
good
fortune
of
experiencing
the
power of
positive
influence
and I've
see
first-hand
the pain
and
despair
of the
'disconnect'
in
kids--I
try to
remember
every
day that
my
contact
may make
a
difference
to
someone--a
student
or
adult--I
may
never
know.
I've
witnessed
the tone
that is
set when
a
teacher
feels
students
are
'difficult'
or
'different'
and I've
cringed
when
students
take on
that
bias
with one
another--
I guess
what I'm
trying to
say, in a
very
inarticulate
way, is that
the message
was
tremendously
powerful,
appropriate
and
necessary--please
continue to
make it
available
and know how
proud I am
that the
Foundation
is
supporting
this
project." |
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Adult and
Mentor
Workshop,
2007 |
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2-Year High School
Mentor, now in college,
2007
"It is amazing
everything that you
have done--not just
for the school
system, but for each
of the mentors.
For me, being a
mentor was the most
amazing experience I
have gone through.
It allowed me to
find who I am, and I
am so grateful for
everything it has
given me. It made me
look outside of
myself and realize
that each of my
actions affect so
many other people.
There were so many
times that I wanted
to not think about
my decisions and
just follow the
group, but then I
realized how many
people I would have
let down. . .All it
takes is one
dedicated person to
make a difference,
just as you did, and
now all the mentors
are doing!. . .While
words cannot
describe, I think
that just seeing how
far I have come in
my character says
enough about how
much of a difference
you make in people's
lives. You
have been such an
inspiration, a
leader, a role
model, and most of
all, a friend." |
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In a letter dated
October 15, 2007:
"We saw Denise
Koebcke at a conference
and were impressed with
her message of creating
a positive school
climate through
bystander leadership.
Denise is an energetic,
dynamic and informative
presenter. Her
content is data driven
mixed with common sense
every day experiences.
When our school
district decided to
implement Team Lead on a
K-12 basis, Denise
trained both faculty and
students. The
response has been
overwhelmingly positive,
as students have started
working on positive
leadership, character,
school connectedness,
and accountability
issues with support from
the faculty.
As
a consultant, Denise
Koebcke has worked with
us to implement Team
Lead creating a program
that is unique to our
needs. Her advice and
experience has been
invaluable. She has
been there for us
through every step of
our Team Lead
development."
Sincerely,
David Spitzer
Principal,
Hobart High School,
Hobart, Indiana
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