The principal at Apache Junction High School is attending a three-day Link Crew conference in April at the Skytop Lodge in Pennsylvania to learn how to implement a program where older students mentor younger ones.
“It’s incredible training — three days, intense the whole time. They tell you not to schedule anything else because you are going to be immersed right into the program and learn as you go. So, exciting,” AJHS Principal Lisa Ginn said during the Feb. 27 meeting of the Apache Junction Unified School District Governing Board.
“The training is ... for your seniors to be able to mentor your freshmen and set up a system of connections. It’s a yearlong program where the seniors work with the students, so this training then is everything that we need to be authorized to be a Link Crew school as well as be prepared to start these programs,” she said.
Another staff member is to attend training in June, Ginn said.
“I’m hoping a teacher goes in my spot but we did a placeholder because it sells out super fast,” she said. “And then another — our academic counselor — will be going ... in June.”
The governing board voted unanimously to approve the April 22-24 out-of-state travel costing $4,425. It will be funded with a ninth-grade success grant.
The cost includes $700 for plane fare, according to a travel request form.
Link Crew, a program from The Boomerang Project, is a high school orientation and transition program, according to a brochure attached to the form.
The three-day conference costs $3,725 per person and offers intensive training to certify individuals as a coordinator in the Link Crew program, according to https://www.boomerangproject.com.
“At this training you will receive step-by-step instructions on how to implement the Link Crew program at your high school. Throughout the three days you will have fun, be challenged, increase your knowledge around transition and return to your school with the tools, strategies and energy to make Link Crew happen with excellence,” it states.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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