Your school is filled with students like Mya.
You and your community members are the Lifeguards they need.
The Lifeguard
Building Relationships & Supporting Students
By Sherri Nelson
Maya was drowning ... and no one seemed to notice.
Not in the quiet turmoil of her home life. Not in the noise of a busy school day. Not even as her grades slipped and her spark dimmed.
Until one adult did notice.
The Lifeguard is a powerful, true-to-life story set in a fictional school where every adult is committed to one mission: helping students rise, no matter how far they've fallen.
READ IT TODAY
At the heart of the story is Maya, a student quietly battling the weight of trauma, poverty, and academic failure. Her story is unique, yet heartbreakingly familiar to educators everywhere.
Through Maya's journey, readers witness the life-changing power of what it means to be a learning lifeguard: a steady, caring presence who refuses to give up on a student in need. You'll see how a team of committed educators comes together to throw lifelines, build trust, and help Maya believe in her future again.
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Damon West calls it "your invitation to dive in," reminding us that ordinary people can make extraordinary impact, just by showing up at the right moment.
This is more than a story ... it's a call to action.
Will you be the lifeguard someone needs?
A Heartfelt Journey to Empower Learning
In the tradition of beloved fables like The Coffee Bean and Who Moved My Cheese, The Lifeguard offers a powerful and poignant narrative that will resonate deeply within you. Join a compassionate community of "Learning Lifeguards" as they discover how to rescue struggling students from the depths of disengagement. By the end of this timeless story, you'll be moved to tears and cheers for Mya, a student whose journey will inspire you to become a lifeguard in your own right, eager to transform the lives of those who need it most.
From The Foreword
I read The Lifeguard in one sitting on my short flight home. It struck me as a heartfelt, beautifully illustrated reminder of how much one caring adult can positively impact a student's life.
This book may be a quick read, but its message is powerful. Through the story of Ms. J and the community around her, we see that every student has the potential to succeed when compassionate adults build positive relationships, hold high expectations, and offer timely support.
What I love most is that this story reaches beyond the classroom.
Anyone willing to be a steady presence for a student trying to stay afloat has the power to make a difference. I've seen it time and again-ordinary people stepping in at just the right moment to make an extraordinary impact.
This book is your invitation to dive in."
-- Damon West, Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Coffee Bean
