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June 23, 2025

Leveling Up Classroom Culture: How Benjamin Banneker Preparatory Charter School empowers students to lead with empathy and confidence

School: Benjamin Banneker Preparatory Charter School
Location: Willingboro, NJ
Grades Served: 6th – 8th
Key Outcomes: Increased student engagement, improved classroom behavior, encouraged greater empathy and peer respect, and enhanced student leadership & real-world skill development

Tackling Digital Distractions and Communication Challenges

At Benjamin Banneker, their mission is to focus on supporting the whole child. Their ultimate goal is that each student, referred to as a scholar, will become an upstanding citizen who strives for excellence within themselves and their communities.

Before partnering with The Social Institute, educators at Benjamin Banneker Preparatory Charter School dealt with several challenges impacting students’ ability to learn and communicate effectively. Teachers noticed that technology, particularly cell phones and social media, was increasingly pulling students’ attention away from learning, while anxiety and emotional well-being became growing concerns.

In addition, educators noted that students struggled with peer-to-peer communication, often lacking the listening skills and empathy needed for productive communication and group discussions. 

“It wasn’t just about behavior,” shared Georgianna Myers, a Social Studies Teacher at Benjamin Banneker Prep. “It was about connection. Students didn’t always know how to express themselves in a healthy way, or how to listen to someone else’s perspective.”

Despite their best efforts, the school found it difficult to find time to research and gather resources to address these challenges without adding to educators’ full plates.

There was a clear need for a program that supported students as they navigated emerging technology, learning, and well-being without requiring heavy lifting for educators or leadership. That’s when Benjamin Banneker turned to #WinAtSocial: An easy-to-implement suite of solutions that empowers entire school communities to build the modern life skills necessary to thrive in a tech-fueled world. 

Equipping Students with Modern Life Skills That Fuel Their Future Success

What makes #WinAtSocial so powerful at Benjamin Banneker is that it teaches more than digital citizenship. It equips students with life skills that will support their success long after they leave middle school.

“Our mission is to make sure that our scholars have the 21st-century life skills that they need.” Highlighted Kourtney Bridges, Director at Benjamin Banneker Prep:

“We want them to be upstanding citizens who strive for excellence for themselves and their communities. So while scholars are being equipped with these skills now through #WinAtSocial, these skills – listening, empathy, and self-awareness – will benefit them in their communities and their careers.”

Since implementing #WinAtSocial, the school has reported noticeable improvements in classroom culture, student participation, and the development of modern life skills.

“I talked to another teacher who shared that scholars are more respectful, calmer, and they’re listening to each other during lessons,” shared Ms. Myers.

“This program has allowed scholars to talk about anxiety, their well-being, and technology, and the kids are receptive to it. They’re engaged. They’re adapting, and they’re using the skills they’ve learned in the classroom.”

These positive changes aren’t isolated to one class or grade level. Educators across the school have noticed students’ improved communication and listening skills from #WinAtSocial Lessons run in science, civics, and social studies classes.

Empowering Student Leaders Through The Social Institute’s Student Ambassador Program

While educators at Benjamin Banneker empower students through #WinAtSocial Lessons, they have also fueled student leadership by encouraging their students to participate in The Social Institute’s Student Ambassador Program.

This program gives students a direct role in leading conversations, in and out of the classroom, on navigating A.I., social media, and technology in positive ways. Plus, it allows students to collaborate with The Social Institute team on building #WinAtSocial Lessons.

Joseph Spillane, an 8th-grade Social Studies Teacher, highlighted:

 “Some of the students who normally wouldn’t speak up are actually leading the discussions now. They’re more communal and engaged, and that’s a big shift from before.”

The ambassadors serve as positive role models, promoting empathy and respect within the school community. Their leadership extends beyond the classroom, empowering other students to think critically about their online behavior and the real-world impact it can have.

“The students really take ownership,” Ms. Myers noted. “It’s not just a program for them to passively participate in. They’re actively shaping the culture around social media use at our school.”

This peer-driven approach not only builds students’ confidence but also strengthens the overall community, creating a supportive environment where respectful conversations and responsible choices become the norm.

An Easy-to-Implement Program with No Heavy Lifting for Educators

One of the most appreciated features of #WinAtSocial at Benjamin Banneker is how user-friendly and supportive it is for teachers. From complete, timely lesson plans to student challenges and Huddles, the program offers everything educators need to empower their students and discuss essential subjects, such as A.I. literacy, as a class. 

“For me, the fact that it’s turnkey is a huge benefit,” said Ms. Bridges. “I don’t want to create more work for teachers. With #WinAtSocial, they can just log in, grab what they need, and start engaging students right away. It’s easy for teachers, and the scholars can navigate the platform just as easily.”

Beyond the platform itself, the support from The Social Institute stands out. “If there’s ever a question, there’s immediately a response,” added Ms. Myers. “You never feel like you’re doing it alone.”

Try Out #WinAtSocial at Your School

Ready to drive engagement and fuel student learning at your school? Preview some of our most popular #WinAtSocial Lessons in 3rd-12th grade and request a demo to run a lesson in your classroom: 

The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in equipping students to navigate learning & well-being in a tech-fueled world. Through #WinAtSocial, our interactive, peer-to-peer learning platform, we empower students, educators, and families to make high-character choices online and offline. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach essential skills while capturing student voice and actionable insights for educators. These insights help educators maintain a healthy school culture, foster high-impact teaching, and build meaningful relationships with families. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips students authentically, enabling our solution to increase classroom participation and improve student-teacher relationships. Through our one-of-a-kind lesson development process, we create lessons for a variety of core and elective classes while incorporating timely topics like social media, A.I., screen time, misinformation, and current events to help schools stay proactive in how they support student health, happiness, and academic success.