English and Theatre teacher Ms. Lisa Quinn introduces in a new community and leadership focus class, Community in the Classroom to her roster for the 2023-2024 school year. All students 9th-12th grade are welcome to take the honors level class. 

The class teaches students to be community leaders and emphasizes a need for non-traditional learning.  

 “My goal is to have them learn life-skills, [be more] proactiv[e], and become leaders because those are young adult life skills that need to be taught.” Quinn explained. “Chalk-and-Talk can only work for so long, students prefer this class because of how hands-on it is.” 

“We don’t sit around all day like most of my classes, we get to leave the classroom and do hands-on activities,” explained Janiya Greene (9).

“This class encourages us to work in groups and socialize,” said Monica Moya (11). I’m a very introverted person and this class makes me feel comfortable to speak with my peers.

The class is involved in the community and provides resources. Last week the 14 students donated 12 boxes of books to Little Free Library in Fort Lauderdale’s underfunded neighborhoods. 

The class is effectively broken into five committees: Grant Writers, Social Media/Merch, Record-Keepers, Sponsorship Seekers, and Public Relations. This ensures the class is running smoothly.

Quinn was given this opportunity when last year she raised $3,000 for her theater class to see Mean Girls at the Broward Center for Performing Arts. With the help of local videographer Alexander Giang, her class recorded a short video explaining their cause. Quinn sent it to local charities as well as media personalities and received donations to support her cause.  

Quinn and Giang plan to work together again to record a similar video featuring Fort Lauderdale High School athletes. Her goal is to raise $2 million to improve the athletic fields. She questioned, “How can you have Flying L Pride when you can’t even play homecoming on your own field?”

FLHS Principal Erin Brown was amazed by Quinn’s efforts and granted her the position of Community Liaison so she can focus on fundraising and community outreach. Quinn hopes the class can be piloted in other schools because it is such an important class for high school students.