Former teacher empowers kids to make positive choices

mike-sissel3Mike Sissel has always had an interest in making an impact in his community. Today, armed with a vision, he is helping empower the community’s youth.

- Advertisement -

Sissel is the founder of the leadership organization YELP, an acronym for Youth Exemplifying Leadership Principles. The organization teaches kids, grades 5 through 8, communication and decision-making skills.

It also helps youth develop a better sense of accountability.

“I was a teacher for 10 years in the Kyrene School District. I saw a real need to develop social and emotional skills with kids that would build a foundation,” Sissel said.

“One of the biggest goals is to empower kids to have a sense of responsibility. I think at that age it’s kind of easy to be irresponsible and point the finger. Those are real formidable years in terms of claiming an identity.”

After graduating from Arizona State University, Sissel began working in the business world. Soon enough, he had a change of heart. Taking a risk, Sissel changed professions, deciding to follow his heart and his aspirations.

“I always felt I had a passion for reaching a larger audience,” he said.

That’s when Sissel dove full time into the teaching profession. He said the change was the right thing to do.

“Any time you take a leap of faith, there is some nervousness, but there are so many things that have happened to reaffirm that this has been the right choice,” Sissel said. “The feedback I’ve gotten from the parents and students—they’ve loved it.”

The program began this summer. After three sessions, he’s already seeing progress, Sissel said. The kids are learning the importance of language. They are understanding the importance of the choices they make in life, developing good habits and finding ways to live more effectively

“It has been a success,” he said.

The program covers a philosophy developed by Stephen Covey. Stephen’s father, Sean Covey, penned a book titled “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”

The book advises such steps as being proactive, beginning with an end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking to understand more than to than to be understood.

As Sissel translates Covey’s advice: “Centergize and sharpen the saw.”

Sissel challenges participants in his program to change for the better and seek to improve every day.

“Before you can make a change within your community or within your peer group, you have to change yourself first,” he said.

“I’m trying to allow the kids to become more responsible for themselves.”

Sissel said growing up with role models helped him as a youth.

“One (role model) would obviously be my parents,” he said. “A lot of times it’s not what they’d say, it was how they lived and the behaviors they demonstrated.”

As a teacher, his inspiration has been Erin Gruwell. Her unorthodox teaching methods led to the publication of the book “Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing To Change Themselves and the World Around Them.” She is now the president of the Freedom Writers Teachers Foundation.

“She really got me to thinking how I can spread my message,” Sissel said. “It’s extremely exciting.”

Helping kids grow intellectually and emotionally still give Sissel an energized feeling.

“A girl I had in the first session wrote a mission statement. It was a blueprint for what she wanted life to look like. She kind of had that ‘Ah-ha’ moment,” Sissel said.

“She realized she was living based on what other people wanted her to do, and if you’re going to let people control and create your life, it’s not going to be the way you want it. She had an epiphany.”

Those moments give Sissel a sense of professional and personal satisfaction.

“That’s been the breakthrough,” he said. “I want to see these kids grow up and live fearless and make good choices.”

For Sissel, every day represents a memorable experience.

“When you’re sharing something that you truly believe is going to make a difference in kids’ lives,” he said.

“Every time I walk into that room, it’s about the kids. I know when they leave that room, a part of me is going with them.”

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Advertisment

Latest e-Edition

Advertisment
Advertisment

Follow Us

2,648FansLike
953FollowersFollow

Weekly Email Newsletter

Latest

Join Our Family...

Wrangler Newsletter

One email

Once a week

Unsubscribe anytime

Welcome to The Wrangler Community!