Hello all, my name is Megan Schierbeck, and I run our only Affective Needs program in the DSST Network at Cole High School! I could not have won this award on my own. It was a massive team effort for everyone who works at Cole, and especially the support specialists -- Sue Wolf, Amanda Molinar, Valeria Mendoza, and Rubi Estrada -- who ensure that our program runs smoothly and students receive the support they deserve with the support of our mental health team Alex Wirth and Mackenzie Brees. 

I was honored and surprised to see people consider me courageous, as I am constantly in awe of the courage that exists in the DSST community. Taking the risk to make changes, risk to make mistakes and improve them and risks to be vulnerable in order to grow are all courageous values I’ve learned from those of you in our small community.

Another local community organization that has inspired courage in me is Casa De Paz. The organization started in the home of Sarah Jackson, a sibling of one of my dearest friends. She saw a community of people in need and had the incredible courage to open up her home. In 2012, Casa De Paz began in Sarah’s one-bedroom apartment, where she provided hospitality to families separated by immigrant detention. Today, this program has blossomed and has provided services to over 10,000 people. They no longer work out of a one-bedroom apartment (they own a home!) and have continued to provide significant support to our immigrant community for over a decade. I am thrilled that DSST will donate to this local community organization on behalf of courage.