Peer Mentorship at Miller Middle School Builds Community and Belonging

Miller Middle School in Durango has entered the second year of its Where Everyone Belongs (WEB) Leadership Program, a peer mentorship initiative designed to help incoming sixth graders feel welcome, supported, and confident as they transition into middle school, according to the Durango Herald.

The program pairs 27 trained eighth-grade leaders with new students, giving younger learners a built-in network of friendly guides and role models. WEB leaders act as tour guides, lunch buddies, and approachable older siblings—helping to ease the nerves and uncertainty that often accompany the leap into middle school life.

How It Works

Over the summer, WEB leaders undergo training led by school staff to prepare them for their role as mentors. At the start of the school year, they meet sixth graders during orientation, where they lead games, give tours, and help students connect with one another before the first bell.

“Sixth graders need to have someone they can trust who’s older than them because not everyone wants to talk to an adult,” 13-year-old WEB leader Liv Candelaria told the Durango Herald. “Just having someone wave at you in the hallway makes you feel like you belong.”

WEB leaders are committed to creating a sense of community that extends beyond orientation. Whether it’s offering a smile, inviting someone to sit at lunch, or simply being a familiar face in the hallway, these small acts of connection make a big impact on younger students.

Student-Led, Student-Focused

The program is unique in that it empowers students to take ownership of school culture. WEB adviser and counselor Alanda Martin told the Durango Herald, “WEB seemed like a great fit for us, as it is student leader-driven and also aligns with the Link Crew model at Durango High School. Our leaders work hard to make all students feel welcomed and supported.”

The initiative is paying off. Durango School District has reported that enrollment at Miller Middle School grew by 16% between last year and this year, crediting programs like WEB as part of the reason families choose the school.

Building Leaders for Tomorrow

The benefits of WEB extend beyond the sixth graders. Eighth-grade leaders say the program helps them develop leadership, communication, and empathy—skills they’ll carry into high school and beyond.

“I became a WEB leader because I really like involving myself in the school and the community,” eighth grader Skylar Carr told the Durango Herald. “Durango’s a small town, and wherever you go, you see a familiar face. WEB gives us the chance to really know people, not just pass them in the hallway.”

WEB leaders also note that their own middle school experiences inspire them to pay it forward. “When I was in sixth grade I felt really lost,” WEB leader Zada Bialek told the Durango Herald. “Helping sixth-graders not feel like that is really nice.”

A Model for Inclusion

The program has become a model of inclusion and kindness that resonates beyond students. Teachers, staff, and parents see WEB as an example of how young people can help create a positive, welcoming school culture.

“Miller Middle School has embraced WEB as a valuable addition to our community,” Principal Vernadette Norman told the Durango Herald. “It provides meaningful mentorship opportunities, and we’re excited to build on it in the years ahead.”

As WEB grows, its impact is clear: students are not just learning math, science, and language arts—they are learning how to create a community where everyone truly belongs.