A group called Peer Pals at Eastern Hancock High School connects students with those who could benefit from a peer buddy at the school. Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022.
CHARLOTTESVILLE — Thirteen-year-old Colten Willis made his way around the classroom at Eastern Hancock High School last week, giving each visitor a gentle tap on their shoulder to say hello.
The social interaction is a huge breakthrough for the teen, who is nonverbal.
Since hanging out with other students through an after-school club called Peer Pals, he’s been interacting more with his peers — using an app on his iPad to communicate.
“That’s huge for him,” said his teacher, Shantelle Ebbert, who teaches essential skills and oversees the Peer Pals group at the school. About 10 students in general education and 10 essential skills students come together each month.
Peer Pals was started by a former student, Lainie Myers, when she was a junior at the school six years ago.
Since then, a number of students have volunteered to spend an hour after school each month engaging with their essential skills peers.
“The goal is to build personal relationships between essential needs students and their same-age peers,” said Ebbert, whose daughter, Abby, volunteers in the class.
The friendship was evident between the students last week, as they gathered to play games, work puzzles and make messy art with colored shaving cream.
Nine-year-old Jackson Graham twisted and turned on a makeshift Twister board made of red and pink hearts.
Twelve-year-old Jacob Cox focused on doing a puzzle.
Six-year-old Mackynzie Studholme happily snacked on a brownie.
While several of the essential skills kids are nonverbal, Ebbert said they all radiate joy when it’s time for Peer Pals to meet. “Many of them have come such a long way as a result,” she said.
Mackynzie communicates and motions with her hands more.
Jacob is playing more games with his peers.
Colten has started coming out of his shell, using his iPad to communicate.
Ebbert said the interaction with mainstream students helps her students develop important social skills.
“I love the interaction between our students and their essential needs peers,” she said. “Every person in our school has come a long way in accepting students of all abilities. Any of these kids can walk down the hall and get high fives from the kids.”
Twelve-year-old Eddie Cartwright is especially fond of getting high fives from everyone he can.
When questioned on his favorite thing about Peer Pals, the sixth-grader had a hard time coming up with just one thing.
“There’s so many answers,” he said.
Snacks, games and bowling in the hallway were at the top of his list, along with all the friends he’s made. “There’s a lot of friends,” he said.
Peer Pals volunteer, Kiley Kingham, said that all students are loved and accepted at the small, rural high school.
“At Eastern Hancock, we are taught to respect others, and because our school is so small, we all know each other,” said Kingham.
The 17-year-old senior has been coming to Peer Pals since she was a freshman.
“I thought it would be something nice to try, and I fell in love with it,” she said. “I love being able to help others. I get a sense of joy being around them.”
Fellow volunteer Brooklyn Willis, a sophomore, is especially thankful for the kids who come to Peer Pals.
Her brother, Colten, has benefited tremendously from the interaction, she said.
“I like that (the students who volunteer) are able to interact with kids who may not look or act the same as other teens,” said Willis, 15.
As for her brother, “he comes home and tells us all about what he did in Peer Pals. You can tell he’s brighter and happier when he talks about it,” using his iPad, she said.
Bailey Grandstaff, who teaches essential skills at Eastern Hancock Elementary School, and Kelly Hoover, an essential skills assistant at the high school, also love when Peer Pals rolls around each month.
Hoover was the club’s first sponsor when it formed in 2016.
“This is a passion of mine,” said Hoover, as she worked on a puzzle with one of her students last week.
“When I first took the job, I thought I’d be a blessing to them, but they’re a blessing to me. I have the privilege to be a part of their development, which is priceless,” she said.
