On August 26, 2026, Mount Greylock Regional School launched The Waymakers Network, a new student mentorship and leadership initiative, designed to put the Greylock Way core values of integrity, perseverance, and responsibility into practice.
The program was developed in partnership with Williams College and the Equity Imperative, an organization that collaborates with schools and districts across the country to promote educational equity and improve outcomes for culturally diverse students (Equity Imperative). The Waymakers Network trains students to help their peers navigate conflict, repair harm, and strengthen relationships across the school community. The Waymakers consist of 11th and 12th graders, but all high school students were encouraged to apply. The program centers around restorative justice, which is an approach to addressing conflict that emphasizes accountability, repairing harm, and rebuilding relationships rather than relying on punishment like traditional disciplinary methods. Restorative justice begins with identifying not only the harm caused and the needs of those affected, but also the circumstances that led someone or a group to act in a harmful way. This contrasts with traditional punitive discipline by creating an opportunity for active, open accountability, where no further damage is caused, and the person responsible can make amends (Olujobi).
The Mount Greylock students selected for The Waymaker Network have been participating in nine one-hour training sessions during directed study and lunch, led by Williams College mentors. The Williams College students took part in a summer intensive course where they learned to facilitate these discussions about effective mediation strategies. Greylock student and member of the Waymakers Network, Haylee Jackson, described how the past meetings have included learning to interpret context, avoiding judgemental questions, and the importance of asking the right questions instead of jumping to conclusions.
The Mount Greylock faculty member leading and helping to organize the Waymakers, Ms. Dias, added that so far the main focus has been on building relationships. Beyond that, teaching Waymakers how to truly listen to students and build real trust while working with them is incredibly vital.
Once trained, Waymakers will be able to apply these skills in a variety of ways. The program is will mostly focus on upperclassmen helping middle schoolers and underclassmen navigate situations. Students or faculty are able to report incidents that happen at Mount Greylock, and students who are involved may have the option to work with Waymakers rather than take conventional disciplinary measures. Alongside individual conflict resolution, the Waymakers will be putting the skills they are developing into practice by facilitating restorative circles, running mentoring sessions, and organizing school-wide assemblies and activities. Ms. Dias emphasized that some cases still require conventional approaches, but there are many others where this alternative method would be appropriate.
Both Ms. Dias and Jackson highlighted how the Waymakers Network has potential to enact real change at Mount Greylock. Ms. Dias hopes to see more students understanding how to voice their opinions and disagree with someone in a civil and respectful way. Jackson revealed that she deeply values the Waymakers initiative because it represents an opportunity to provide her younger peers with the support and activities that she would benefited from as a Mount Greylock middle school student.
Ultimately, the Waymakers Network aims to make Mount Greylock a space where every student feels understood, supported, and empowered to navigate and resolve conflict constructively. By teaching students to take responsibility for their actions and understand perspectives outside their own, the program encourages the values of the Greylock Way. As this initiative continues to evolve, its impact will likely uplift the community it helps to build.
