Pine-Richland High School Peer-to-Peer Sponsor Leslie Straub earned the National Jefferson Awards Foundation 2017 Students in Action Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award. She was named the national winner on June 23, 2017 at the national conference in Washington, DC. Check out the awards program video.  

Mrs. Straub, who graduated from Texas Tech University with a dual bachelor's degree in English and Psychology, has been with PRHS since Fall 2009. Before becoming a school counselor, Straub taught secondary English in Texas, Ohio and Pittsburgh. However, after teaching for eight years, Straub felt that she could better help students as a counselor and earned her graduate degree in counseling psychology with a specialization in school counseling from Chatham University. 

The Peer-to-Peer SIA Team’s ongoing goal has been to on promote a positive and inclusive environment for all students.  The 2016-2017 team chose to address a tough topic that many communities around the country are facing – teen suicide. The team concluded that breaking down social barriers and creating an overall better school environment is a great start to address the issue. Some of the projects that the team highlighted included details of a lollipop project where they decorated lockers with “lollipop moments” and details of the annual Color Run where they promoted togetherness across all groups, raising $3,500 to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

PRHS School Counselor Leslie Straub says, “The team accomplished their goals because they worked together the ‘peer to peer’ way.  The synergy of this group is incredible to be a part of.”

Peer-to-Peer previously earned a regional Gold Banner in 2015 for recruiting and building a culture of service as well as a regional Silver Banner in 2016 for raising dating violence awareness.  The team also traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the national conference,, where they met outstanding volunteers of service from across the nation.