In this school counseling podcast episode we talk with Leigh and Linda from The Centergy Project. Find out how they have transformed communities through something they call Student Voice. Using Conversation Circles they get to the heart of their students' needs. Then, they partner with agencies who can come in and meet those needs. Leigh and Linda both believe a former student summed it up best by saying, "No one knows our school better than we do."
Leigh Colburn is a career educator, community leader, and educational consultant. She began her career in elementary school—teaching in all K–5 grades before moving into elementary administration and becoming a principal. Leigh transitioned to high school administration and proudly served as the principal of Marietta High School for ten years until founding the Graduate Marietta Student Success Center on July 1, 2015. Under her leadership, the Graduate Marietta Student Success Center received the 2016 Charter System Innovator of the Year Award for the state of Georgia.
Linda Beggs is a co-founder of The Centergy Project, a Georgia-based education consultancy working with school districts wanting to offer embedded wraparound services. She brings over 30 years of consulting experience focused on organizational development with expertise in culture, change, and team effectiveness. Working with corporate, government, education, and nonprofit organizations has prepared Linda to engage schools to create the high-trust culture essential to implementing wraparound resource centers. Along with her business partner, Leigh Colburn, Linda co-authored The Wraparound Guide, a how-to handbook for helping students overcome barriers to wellness and learning.
