SHERRI NELSON, M.Ed.
Educator | Author | Learning Lifeguard

Swimming alone can be risky. However, the chance of drowning in the presence of a certified lifeguard is about one in eighteen million. Lifeguards give swimmers space within boundaries but watch closely and intervene if they suspect someone is in distress. Similarly, each learning lifeguard seeks to support at least one underachieving student who is in danger of academically drowning. Building a team of learning lifeguards doesn’t have to be a complicated program or process. Simply: • Determine what you want lifeguards to do. • Identify the students who need extra support. • Thoughtfully match each one with a trusted adult. • Be a lifeguard! The key is commitment. Each learning lifeguard should be willing to support their student for the full school year and, ideally, even longer. Teachers who follow the learning lifeguard philosophy believe that all students can achieve high levels of learning if the adults around them show they care, collectively hold all learners to high expectations, and provide academic support to those who need it. We recognize that the responsibility of helping students reach their full potential cannot rest solely on the shoulders of a few; it requires a committed team. Research shows that just one trust adult can have a profoundly positive influence on a child's life.