The school hired two new campus ambassadors, Bryttani Ford and Juan Valdivia, as an extension of the upper school security team. The ambassadors’ role at school is to assist and welcome visitors, parents and college representatives as well as regulate student activity on campus.
Ford said she hopes to foster a sense of community through interactions with a wide range of different individuals.
“We are also here to connect with faculty, with students and anyone who is on campus, which has been a pleasure,” Ford said. “My favorite part of this job is having the opportunity to work with everyone. I can end up talking to anyone, anywhere. I have also gotten to know a lot of different parents at the school, which has definitely been really cool.”
Valdivia said he hopes to be a resource of support for all students so that they feel safe on campus.
“The most important thing is making sure the students feel secure and safe, not just inside the campus, but also among each other,” Valdivia said. “If they’re not feeling good or something is happening that is off, we reach out and try to be a support system for them.”
Ford said that the role of campus ambassadors is to ensure students’ safety and accountability throughout the school day.
“Us ambassadors are not trying to give you guys a hard time in the morning when we are asking you to check in, or when you are trying to check out,” Ford said. “We are just trying to make sure that you are where you are supposed to be so we know where you are in case anything happens.”
Valdivia said he was able to make connections with fellow staff members before the school year began.
“During the summer, I got to know the other staff and I also attended Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training,” Valdivia said. “I got to engage with the staff and got to know them before I got to know the students, which was good for me. It is fun seeing the students because it reminds me of my youth, since they have so much energy.”
Raya Soper ’26 said the campus ambassadors have had a beneficial impact on her everyday experience at school.
“I have definitely noticed a positive difference in our community with the addition of the campus ambassadors,” said Soper. “They are so nice and welcoming when I see them in the morning, and already make me feel more safe around campus. I feel like I could easily approach them if I were to need help with anything.”
