Hope Squad

National Hope Squad Council

During the meetings, members “go over how to improve the program and offer all the support we can in any way we possibly can.”

Prosper ISD is proud to be a part of the Hope Squad program. The school-based peer-to-peer suicide prevention program began in Prosper in 2019 beginning at PHS and then the middle schools. The program is now present in all Prosper ISD campuses.

PHS Junior, Brynlee Morgan, began her journey in Hope Squad her freshman year when “I got a letter offering me a spot on the Hope Squad for my sophomore year. The second I read that invitation and what Hope Squad entailed, I was automatically drawn to it. Helping others has always been a passion of mine. I wanted to learn about mental health and the effect it had on one's body. I wanted to help PHS start a conversation about suicide in order to educate others and help build a stronger community. The more we know as a community, the more help we can offer to those around us.” Brynlee believes that the program has made a difference by changing the atmosphere of the school. “We put up posters spreading awareness. We host activities that bring hope, awareness, or happiness to the environment. We do everything we can think of to bring hope to the school. I believe this program has shown people across the school that there is a safe outlet to go to for help.”

Brynlee accredits the program with helping to “truly shape my character. At first, I thought this class was mainly helping others and spreading

suicide awareness, but quickly I learned that this class teaches kids how to deal with problems. These problems may be someone elses or your own. The first couple weeks of this class I saw changes in myself and the way I perceived different things. This program has shown me how to help someone through a crisis, how to be there for my friends in times of need, or simply how to care for myself when I need it.” Brynlee as well as her squadmates and leaders are committed to making sure that their peers understand that, while suicide is a difficult topic, it needs to be talked about.

During the summer of 2020, PISD Hope Squad advisor, Tony Cooper, contacted Brynlee about her interest in continuing to serve her community on a greater scale by serving on the Hope Squad National Council “The application process had started months before Coach Cooper or I even knew the Council existed, but the National Council Advisor decided they wanted a representative from Texas.” After completing her application, she was contacted by the National Advisor and then was notified that she would be a part of the 2020-2021 National Hope Squad Council.

As with many things in the world, the council meetings have been based completely online. During the meetings, members “go over how to improve the program and offer all the support we can in any way we possibly can.” In addition to monthly support calls open to all Hope Squad members where the council offers advice and provides input, the council offered a “National Conference on Zoom with presenters from Ohio, Utah, Texas, etc. all presenting about mental health, or their topics, to anyone at the conference. All Council members picked an activity to present for about five minutes. We all got to share self care activities that we felt needed to be shared. Our newest project is updating the Hope Squad curriculum.”