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Kenmore West GLA Makes Impact In Schools and Community

Students post with homemade crafts

The Kenmore West Girls Leadership Academy just wrapped up its second year and, once again, made quite an impact on our school district and local community!

Facilitated by FACS teacher Gina Muroff, school counselor Kim Sedita, and social worker Michele Taberski, Girls Leadership Academy (GLA) is a program that provides opportunities for female students to become stronger leaders, achieve their personal best, and serve as positive role models at school and within the community. GLA honors students from all academic paths and walks of life to come together and share their diverse perspectives and experiences, build a sisterhood of mutual respect and teamwork, and explore ways to use their leadership skills for good by finding ways to give back to those in need.

student helps younger students with project

This past fall, GLA spent eight consecutive weeks at Hoover Elementary working in the first grade classrooms. Students gave up their lunch period once a week to mentor the younger children at Hoover and reinforce social and emotional learning. By following Hoover's monthly character themes of growth mindset, positive friendship, and kindness, GLA students were able to make wonderful connections with the 1st graders and learned how they can make an impact on others simply by being present and kind.

"We commend our students for being excellent role models and admire the ways in which they pushed themselves to be leaders in the classroom," said Sedita, Muroff, and Taberski.

students pose with homemade blankets

With the support and generosity of the Character Council of WNY, the GLA was also able to plan and execute a community service project to make blankets to donate to the Schofield Nursing Facility. Students collectively decided that they wanted to spend time with the residents to share the gift of a blanket and spend quality time with them. Students came up with questions they wanted to ask and were paired individually with a Schofield resident.

"Watching the interactions and hearing from the students afterward brought tears to our eyes," the three advisors said. "The hour that they spent together was not only heartfelt and meaningful, it also served as a reminder to our students that they do make a difference in this world."

Students in the 2024-2025 GLA included: Kenadi Bonner, Brielle Stewart, Taylor Paluch, Novpreet Kaur, Gabriella Lo Vallo, Gianna Sperazza, Riley Day, Rebecca Hniang, Aubrey Kresge, Ava Stewart, Nina Parker, and Isabella Ruffino.