Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders

At Peers Not Fears, we believe leadership isn’t something reserved for a select few — it’s something every student can practice. The work we do in schools and communities is about helping teens see themselves as capable leaders, and helping adults recognize that leadership can look quiet, creative, and even a little unconventional. Recently, I returned to The Founders Academy to reconnect with a group of peer leaders I had worked with previously. What I discovered that day g

Leadership isn’t always about big speeches or grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s in the quiet moments — the choice to say hello, include someone new, or step toward discomfort. This story from a middle school leadership program reveals the true heart of leadership: leading ourselves first.

For too long, we’ve equated leadership with doing it all alone. But true leadership means asking for help, inviting others in, and building stronger communities together. Learn how redefining strength through collaboration can transform the way we lead, parent, and grow.

Traditional grades don’t always capture a teen’s growth or potential. Authentic assessments provide meaningful opportunities for students to build confidence, problem-solving skills, and leadership abilities that last a lifetime.

Learn how to support your child when school labels them “troublemaker” or “class clown” and help them grow beyond the label.

I wonder if we stop thinking that this is normal, or should be normal, would we stop trying to fix it, and instead make it a new normal?

If we limit our view of who can be a student leader, then we put up those barriers for students as their teachers.

Can I fix them all? Certainly not alone. Can my blog offer ways we can fix the barriers? I hope - at least a little.

These moments were the start of something new for me, and I am grateful for those moments more than they will ever know.

I am one of four people in my household. My two boys are in elementary and middle school, and my husband and I are both teachers. For the...

I’ve been listening to the book by Sonya Renee Taylor, The Body Is Not an Apology. In the book, she discusses how we are constantly...