View the Presentation. The Sedona Charter School’s “Beyond Me Project” was created by Samantha Malinski, Middle School Principal Educator, to give students an opportunity to support our community while becoming the voice for causes that resonate with them and benefit the community as a whole.

The issue they wanted to address is that teenagers needed more things to do in Sedona. They unanimously felt that the best way to support the community and their needs was to build a Recreation Center in Sedona. 

All our middle school students participated in brainstorming and researching ideas for the project. The five students who presented were the leaders for each section of the project, guiding their peers and taking ownership of their respective areas. Over the course of more than 12 weeks, they dedicated time each week to work on the project, and the leaders then spent an additional three weeks preparing and practicing their presentations.

This year, our curriculum includes learning about local and U.S. government, and this project offered hands-on experience in civic engagement. The students had the chance to see how they can actively contribute to their community, even as teenagers.