This article was written by Melissa Cahall, School Counselor at Patriots STEM Elementary in Cabarrus County Schools in Concord, North Carolina. Melissa has served at Patriots STEM for five years and brings 14 years of experience in the mental health field, and was named Cabarrus County Schools' School Counselor of the Year for 2024–2025. As the school's P2 Champion, she has led Patriots STEM to Green Shield status for three consecutive years and to designation as a state School of Character. Patriots STEM serves roughly 793 students in grades K–5. Cabarrus County Schools adopted The Positivity Project district-wide in 2022 as its core student wellness program.
The Positivity Project (P2) at Patriots STEM Elementary serves as a transformative initiative designed to cultivate emotional and social growth among students. By integrating values such as kindness, empathy and resilience into the educational framework, Patriots STEM Elementary not only promotes individual character development but also enhances the overall school culture.
This holistic approach is pivotal in preparing students for future challenges both academically and personally.
How the Student Leadership Team Is Chosen
Central to the implementation of P2 at Patriots STEM Elementary is the establishment of a Student Leadership Team composed of representatives from all third to fifth-grade classrooms. The selection process involves nominations and voting for class presidents, thereby instilling a sense of democracy and responsibility among students.
Selected Student Leaders meet monthly to discuss school-wide programs, initiatives, and to brainstorm overall ways to improve the school. Additionally, there is a heavy focus on P2 within these meetings, as all student leaders participate in a P2 for team lesson and are tasked with recreating this lesson in their classrooms with their peers. This shared leadership experience with the P2 curriculum has increased our student buy-in and engagement.
Students absolutely love it when their peers lead the lessons, and some classrooms are allowing students to teach P2 as a reward, further increasing engagement.
Melissa Cahall
Melissa Cahall is a dedicated School Counselor at Patriots STEM Elementary, where she has served for five years. With 14 years of experience in the mental health field, she believes that the power of meaningful connections is imperative in children’s lives, as these connections can have a profound impact on a child’s mental, emotional, physical and academic growth. Melissa was recognized as the School Counselor of the Year in Cabarrus County School for the 2024/2025 school year. In 2022 Cabarrus County Schools implemented The Positivity Project across the entire district as their core student wellness program. A proud P2 School Champion, Melissa has led Patriots STEM Elementary to Green Shield Status for 3 consecutive years. She has also helped the school to achieve the distinguished status of a state School of Character, reflecting her commitment to fostering a positive and supportive school environment.
