Allyson Sanders is building “CROWNs” and working to motivate every girl at Owensboro Middle School. Her first mission: boosting their confidence.
Sanders designed the Build Her C.R.O.W.N. program with two components: one is a monthly assembly for all OMS female students, and the other is a weekly small group for 7th-grade girls.
Sanders said having the program built into the school day nixes any conflicts in scheduling that could arise.
“This still gives them an opportunity to be a part of the program,” Sanders said.
C.R.O.W.N. is an acronym for Confident, Respectful, Original, Well-Rounded, and Neighborly.
“We all know middle school is rough. Creating positive opportunities to engage young ladies and having an open dialogue about these values is what this is about,” Sanders said. “Just the idea that they’re going to carry this through the high school and hopefully carry this through the college, imagine what that’ll do.”
The effort is possible due to the Community Schools Initiative grant for the Owensboro Public Schools district.
OPS Community Schools Coordinator Brian Benjamin said the program has been in the works for some time now. It ultimately came about after a survey of staff, students, and families in the district.
According to Benjamin, the survey indicated there was a need to raise the self-esteem and confidence of the girls at the school.
“It was just perfect timing for it. She’s worked really hard with the leadership team here to put this together and we kicked it off in the spring semester in January, and it’s really been a great success,” Benjamin said.
Sanders said the students have expressed how much the program means to them.
“The idea that they’re excited at this early in the morning to get into a room and talk to an adult, that’s a big deal,” Sanders said. “To me that says this is doing exactly what it was meant to do. It’s making them feel excited about being in school, being around other girls, cheering each other on, talking, having a good time, but also learning something.”
