In Columbus, a new breed of young leaders have emerged from the classrooms of Columbus City Schools (CCS), stepping up to the plate after completing Teen and Police Service (TAPS) Academy this fall. A program aimed at forging stronger ties between law enforcement and local youth, TAPS Academy saw students from multiple middle schools, including Buckeye, Starling, and Yorktown, celebrating their graduation and a new sense of empowerment – a narrative captured in an article by CCS's official release.
Initially, there was some skepticism from students, “At first, we thought the class was for people who were in trouble,” confessed Yorktown Middle School eighth-grader Shadai Fermin Padilla, speaking on the initial misconceptions which swiftly shifted as the connection with police officers strengthened over time, having them realize the officers were there to be “pillars in our community,” according to a CCS interview. The TAPS program is more than just an educational venture; it's a bridge connecting the young citizens and the keepers of peace through mentorship and discussion over a period of 11 weeks.
This initiative is not a fleeting one, since its inception at Independence High School in 2014, TAPS has expanded across the district, offering weekly sessions that address real-life quandaries students face, equipping them with robust respect for law enforcement, along with practical knowledge – ranging from conflict-resolution to gun-safety, healthy relationship building to insights on human trafficking. The culmination of this experience translates into the conceptualization of spaces like "The Chill Zone," a student lounge to honor positive behavior at Yorktown Middle School, reflecting leadership and accountability, with Yorktown eighth-grader Jayla Boone calling it a space “designed, organized, and set up for us, by us, with adult facilitation, of course.”
The community impact of the TAPS Academy ripples well beyond graduation ceremonies while accolades and support pour in from various quarters, including CCS staff and board members, one being Columbus Board of Education President Michael Cole who was seen at Yorktown's graduation cheering the effort and lingered on the importance of the bloomed relationships quoting “These adults in authority now have a relationship with you,” explained Cole, embellishing the graduates with a notion that law enforcement officials can now engage with them on a transformed level, a sentiment amplified by the TAPS Program Coordinator Jenny Benson applauding students for their courage to bring change. The program weaves together mentorship and open dialogue, reinforcing the bedrock for stronger communities and more connected neighborhoods.
