South Florence High School Teacher Cadets Mix It Up

To honor the spirit of National Mix-it-Up at Lunch Day, every year Mary Glover's Teacher Cadets at South Florence High School are trained in special needs awareness. The cadets then train a hand-picked group of 9th graders.

"The energy around experiencing life through the lens of another person’s disability creates an energy and empathy in the room that is palpable," stated Glover. 

The cadets and 9th graders then join with a group of about 50 special needs students to have a fun lunch and activity time on National Mix-It-Up Day.  The cadet class sponsors the event every year because they believe it raises important awareness about special needs students and gives everyone involved a chance to build new friendships, which continue into the school years that follow.

Mix-It-Up at Lunch Day is a project of The Southern Poverty Law Center. The project aims to build inclusive school communities by encouraging social interaction across lines of division. Participating students sit in new seats during lunch in an effort to establish new social connections.

Fellow teachers Carol Hill and Kathy Brown developed the project at South Florence several years ago. Glover decided to integrate the project into her Teacher Cadet curriculum. "It has been a hit with the participants for years. It is one of the best projects I have ever been a part of," said Glover.

For more information about Mix It Up At Lunch Day, visit www.tolerance.org.