Before-School Mentoring Program Wins State Innovation Award

A simple idea to get kids moving before school has grown into something remarkable. The Morning Movement and Mentoring program in Amherst, Massachusetts, just won the 2026 Kenneth E. Pickard Municipal Innovation Award from the Massachusetts Municipal Association for transforming how nearly 100 students start their day.

Three mornings each week, seventh through ninth graders gather before the first bell for sports, weightlifting, arts and crafts, and homework help. They connect with mentors, build friendships, and prepare for the day ahead. Field trips to college campuses, sporting events, and even the State House in Boston expand their horizons beyond the classroom.

The program started informally through paraeducator Seiha Krouch, who came to America as a Cambodian refugee in the 1980s. His goal was simple but powerful: give young people self-confidence, discipline, and positive encouragement through a safe space to exercise and connect.

"My goal is and will forever be to give youth a safe place and space to exercise before and after school," Krouch explained. "My other goal is to develop trust with youth, create friendships and demonstrate what a big family is about."

The numbers tell a success story. About 45 students attend daily from incredibly diverse backgrounds, with participants representing Hispanic, Black, white, multiracial, and Asian communities. Attendance, grades, mental health, and sense of belonging are all improving.

College students from UMass and Amherst College serve as mentors, creating connections that flow both ways. Maria Grove, the program director and student leadership coordinator at Amherst College, sees the mutual benefit daily.

"Every day of this program is an opportunity to meet young people exactly where they are and to remind them of who they can become," Grove said. "This program is special because learning flows both ways; our students inspire, challenge, and teach our mentors just as much as they are supported in return."

The Ripple Effect: The town of Amherst recognized something special when they saw it. In 2023, they partnered with the schools to fund transportation, removing barriers so every interested student could participate. Now, the model is earning statewide recognition as other communities look to replicate its success. What started as one educator's commitment to creating belonging has become a blueprint for supporting young people through connection, movement, and trust.

When students know they have a place to belong before the school day even starts, everything changes.