“You know you make me wanna (Shout!), kick my heels up and (Shout!) . . . ” Some Beaver Area High School students are choosing to SHOUT and bring awareness to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the school.

A new organization is being started at Beaver Area called SHOUT (Social Handprints Overcoming Unjust Treatment)—a program designed to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in high schools. English teachers Mrs. Heather Bixler and Ms. Aimee Firmani along with choir director Mrs. Susan Metelsky have gladly taken on the roles as program sponsors.

“When [senior Isabella DiPietrantonio] approached me and asked if I would be interested in co-sponsoring SHOUT, I could not have been more thrilled. As diversity, equity, and inclusion are some of my deepest passions, learning of the existence of this organization and the fact that we had been invited to be a part of it excited me greatly,” shared co-sponsor Mrs. Bixler.

Ms. Firmani shared similar reasoning: “when [DiPietrantonio] asked me to co-sponsor, I was thrilled as the SHOUT organization stands for issues near and dear to my heart—raising student voice; promoting equity, love, and justice; fostering diversity; and building community through education.”

Although the program is new to Beaver Area, there are currently 10 SHOUT chapters across Western Pennsylvania. DiPietrantonio and senior Jazlyn Yanssens will be the students founding the new 11th chapter at Beaver Area.

High school principal Dr. Meghan Murray originally made DiPietrantonio and Yanssens aware of the SHOUT program.

“When Dr. Murray reached out to me as student council president and Jazlyn as senior class president I felt really encouraged being able to put our leadership roles to use for such important needs in our school,” said DiPietrantonio. “Reaching out to other students and faculty really opened my eyes to the needs in our school and what an impact a chapter of SHOUT at Beaver could have on our school and greater community.”

Beaver Area was lucky enough to receive a personal invitation from Mitch Howard, a senior student and the Director of Networking and Outreach at South Fayette High School, to start chapter 11 at Beaver Area High School.

Mrs. Bixler, who is thrilled about this program, stated, “The original members of SHOUT have achieved incredible strides towards widespread impact and recognition, including writing a book on how to create a new chapter of the organization, publishing a book of personal narratives, creating a podcast, planning and executing a wide variety of district and community events, and garnering positive attention from unexpected people, from PA Sen. Iovino to Sen. Toomey. They have also received a Congressional Congratulatory Certificate from our state.”

Mrs. Bixler, Ms. Firmani, Mrs. Metelsky, DiPietrantonio, and Yanssens are currently working through the nine key steps for creating a new SHOUT chapter. They eagerly await the approval from administration and the school board to begin this new chapter; hopefully a decision will be made by the end of March.

Once SHOUT gets approval from the school board, all students, faculty, and staff are invited to help “build safe and welcoming spaces for diverse students as our cultural demographic shifts; and develop awareness and acceptance of all kinds of difference, dispelling fear by creating educational opportunities of the Beaver [Area] community,” shared Mrs. Bixler.

One of the group’s initial steps was sharing an anonymous survey with high school students and staff asking for honest feedback about the school’s culture and atmosphere. They received over 300 responses.

“I’m excited to be a part of planting this seed and feel very confident in the leadership in the grades below to sustain and blossom the SHOUT program in our school,” exclaimed DiPietrantonio.

Keep an eye out for more information so you can join SHOUT and help Beaver Area High School become a safe, welcoming environment for all.