Reprinted from TAPinto.net - You don’t have to be a teacher in order to positively impact students’ lives.

The New Providence, N.J., school board  presented its second Impact Teacher Award to Eli Leader, groundskeeper at Salt Brook School, on Dec. 13.

Leader, a Bluffton High School graduate, is son of Don and Ann Leader of Bluffton.

He was recognized for his role in addressing students concern over a missing tree and helping students to find a solution for their dilemma.

In early September several Salt Brook School students requested a meeting with Drexinger regarding an issue they were concerned about. “During the meeting it was brought to Mrs. Drexinger’s attention that a tree previously planted on the school ground was no longer there,” Superintendent David Miceli explained.

The Salt Brook School students had adopted the tree and named it “Sam.” They had cared about the tree, watered it regularly, even during summer. “The tree was a meeting place for students in the morning and again after school.” They were quite upset after returning to school and finding the tree missing, Miceli said.

The students put together “a well-thought out presentation” for the principal containing facts about trees, their importance and a request to raise money to plant another tree in Sam’s place.

After the meeting Drexinger had contacted Leader to share the students’ presentation. Leader was “more than willing to investigate the situation and to come up with a solution,” Miceli said.

“Mr. Leader found out what happened to the old tree and shared that information with the students. He then spent time researching trees that would thrive in the chosen location and shared four options for the students,” he said.

Leader allowed the students to be part of the selection process and let them pick the new tree. “When the new tree arrived Mr. Leader arranged time for the students to come outside and help him plant that tree,” Miceli explained.

“Many times our maintenance staff are the unsung heroes of the district. They ensure that facilities are up and running and often respond at a moment’s notice to unanticipated situations that occur that day. They don’t always have the opportunity to interact with students,” Miceli said.

In this particular occasion Leader offered his assistance and “played a vital role” in helping the students’ idea become a reality, he added. “He demonstrated unexceptional leadership and commitment to the district, and most importantly to the students,” he commended. 

This was a service learning opportunity for Salt Brook School students, “one that they will remember for years to come,” Miceli said.