Student Access and Opportunity
At the Stafford Education Foundation (SEF), we love seeing students take charge, explore new opportunities, and develop leadership skills that will serve them for years to come. In the fall of 2024, Mountain View High School opened the doors to its specialty center—the Leadership, Education, and Public Service (LEAPS) Center—and it’s already making an impact!
Under the guidance of Mr. Jason Pope, the LEAPS program is designed for rising freshmen interested in careers in education, public service, and leadership. It houses the Teachers for Tomorrow program, integrates leadership with the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and introduces students to careers in law enforcement and public service.
Jumping Into Leadership—One Egg at a Time!
SEF has had the absolute pleasure of working with a team of LEAPS students to plan the Egg Hunt for the Hippity Hop on April 19. This hands-on experience has given students the chance to:
✅ Create a committee structure
✅ Elect leadership
✅ Brainstorm and set goals
✅ Develop a schedule
✅ Run the egg hunt from start to finish!
And remember—these are 9th graders! Taking on this level of responsibility might have been daunting, but under the patient leadership of Mr. Pope, the students have embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and focus.
Mr. Pope sees this as a valuable community service project and a perfect example of how LEAPS provides students with real-world experiences that build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills.
A Huge Thank You!
We are incredibly grateful to the LEAPS students and Mr. Pope for their dedication to this project. We can’t wait to see them in action on April 19!
Want to learn more about SEF’s work supporting student access and opportunity? Reach out to us at staffordeducationfoundation@staffordschools.net.
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