From ALISHA CALL/Director of Communications Ark City USD 470
Amidst all the activities at IXL Elementary, a select group of girls are opting for a timeout. This hour, spent with their school counselor and several college students, is a chance for them to receive extra attention, get a fun hairdo, and learn to develop a positive self-image.
The six-week Boost program, developed by IXL School Counselor Debbie Standefer, aims to arm young girls with practical self-care skills while helping them develop a strong sense of self-esteem.
“Self-esteem plays a pivotal role in a child’s development,” Standefer says. “It can be easy for children of this age to feel overlooked or like they don’t fit so our goal is to give these girls a real confidence boost.”
The initiative pairs ten girls from grades 3-5 with students from Cowley College’s Cosmetology program. Under the guidance of Delayne Dale-Mitchell and Amy Pool, budding beauty professionals contribute to their community while refining their craft.
“This is a super positive experience for our students, it gets them out into the community and they enjoy planning the activities each week,” says Dale-Mitchell. “I think a lot of students enter cosmetology looking to kind of transform themselves at the same time they’re helping others. Maybe they see younger versions of themselves in some of these girls too. I love it – it’s good for all of us.”
For the elementary school girls, the experience is transformative. “They love it,” Standefer beams. “The first week, the girls were so quiet and now look, they’re getting more comfortable. They’re smiling and laughing and interacting with the college students and, as a bonus, they love their hair when they’re done!”
Standefer applied for and received a grant from the Legacy Regional Community Foundation to help purchase haircare kits for each participant and donors such as Angels in the Attic and Gretchen Cox also helped make the program possible. In addition to donating time, the cosmetology program donated products and gave each girl coupons for free haircuts and manicures.
With the program’s success, Standefer hopes to expand its reach. “I just wish every single student could participate,” she says. “The impact is immeasurable. They’re learning to love and respect\ themselves and lift those around them. Everyone can benefit from that.”
In a world where self-esteem can be hard to hang onto, IXL’s Boost program is a testament to the power of community, compassion, and the unwavering belief that every child deserves to feel special. As these girls leave the program with heads held high and hearts full of confidence, they carry with them a reminder for us all: we are worthy, we are valued, and we are enough.
