Eight Years of Impact: Concord’s Playbook Student Leaders Keep the Momentum Going

Ellen Garrison Building at Concord Middle School’s Playbook Initiative Student Leaders were honored on the court by the Boston Celtics on Oct. 15. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)

CONCORD — The Playbook Initiative Student Leaders from the Ellen Garrison Building at Concord Middle School took the floor during the national anthem at the Oct. 15 game at TD Garden, standing alongside the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors.

The 30 participating students represented a total of 80 Playbook Student Leaders — about 25 from each grade — who lead their classmates in lessons that foster understanding across religion, race, disability, gender and orientation as part of their ongoing commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and anti-racism.

The Playbook Initiative, presented by New Balance, is an anti-discrimination, bias-prevention program and a partnership between Project 351, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, New Balance and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.), and is now active in at least 28 middle schools across the state, according to the Project 351 website.

Eight Years Strong

The Playbook Initiative remains a key part of the Ellen Garrison Building at Concord Middle School’s commitment to equity and inclusion. Concord was one of the first schools in Massachusetts to adopt the program in 2018.

Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter said the program gives students tools to think critically and lead important conversations.

“The middle school years are a formative time,” Superintendent Dr. Hunter said. “Students are developing their sense of identity and learning how to navigate complex social situations. Giving them the tools and agency to teach others and model the ideals of bias prevention has a lifelong impact.”

Student Leadership That Reaches the Whole Community

The Playbook Initiative is built around student leadership. The program trains students to recognize and respond to bias and discrimination and to teach those lessons to others. Every two months, Playbook Student Leaders deliver workshops to their peers on religion, race, disability, gender and orientation.

Over the past eight years, Student Leaders have expanded their reach beyond the classroom. They have led faculty meetings, professional development sessions for bus drivers and community trainings that included School Committee members and the Concord Police Department. Each year, Playbook leaders also visit Concord elementary schools to introduce younger students to Playbook concepts, helping build a lasting culture of inclusion.

Beyond Recognition

In April 2023, Dave Hoffman, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement for the Boston Celtics, presented an award to Concord Middle School Playbook leaders during a School Committee meeting.

“It’s amazing to see how Playbook continues to evolve across Massachusetts,” Hoffman said. “Concord provides an incredible example of how a program like this can take root and truly become a part of the fabric of a school community when a committed leader like Principal Cameron and student leaders strive to foster an inclusive environment for all.”

The Playbook Initiative also gathers regular feedback through surveys after each student-led session. Responses from students, staff and families help guide and improve the program.

Parent feedback has shown how the program influences students beyond middle school. Concord parent MaryAlice Mudge, whose three children have served as Playbook leaders, said she has seen lasting effects.

“My eighth grader is my youngest of three, and all have been Playbook Student Leaders,” Mudge said. “I’ve seen each of them apply the Playbook mindset in real-life situations — speaking up when something needed to be said and showing compassion in how they treat others. Whether during their CMS years or beyond, I find myself thinking of and being thankful for the Playbook when I see my children helping to make space for others.”

Looking Ahead

The 2025-26 school year began with more than 130 students applying to become Playbook Student Leaders. Nearly 80 were selected. After their training, all 80 led advisory groups of 10-12 classmates in an anti-Semitism awareness session in early October.

For the first time, families received a Parent/Guardian Playbook Guide to help extend these conversations at home.

“Our students’ work around religion, race, disability, gender and orientation is most impactful when it’s reinforced at home,” Principal Justin Cameron said. “The Parent/Guardian Playbook Guide helps parents feel more confident in these discussions so that our shared values of empathy and respect extend beyond school walls.”

Andrew K. Nyamekye, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging for Concord Public Schools and the Concord-Carlisle Regional School District, said the Playbook Initiative has become part of the school’s identity.

“What began as a pilot program rooted in conversations about bias and belonging has evolved into a defining element of our school culture,” Nyamekye said. “For eight years, students have shown that they are not just learning about equity and inclusion — they are living it and carrying it into the greater community.”

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