Seneca Falls, New York — A walk through the halls of Seneca Falls Middle School brings back memories of Kevin Korzeniowski.
“We won state championships in high school, and they said just walk naturally with a camera,” Korzeniowski said.
He grew up in the Seneca Falls School District, first as a student and then as a coach.
“Our coaches are at the forefront of our students’ lives and hear more than our teachers,” says Korzeniowski.
That’s why he wants them to coach something else. Now as the district’s athletic director, he wants to make mental health a priority.
Thanks to a new grant, Korzeniowski is making sure all coaches in the district are trained to spot the warning signs.
“They talk about the problems kids have, and many of these problems are just as much in the classroom as they are on the playground,” Korzeniowski said.
Community has always been important to Pastor Lia Nutuala of the First Presbyterian Church. As such, she is helping promote mental health training in her school district.
“Mental health is a big problem. It’s a big problem in Seneca County. Seneca County has one of the highest suicide rates in New York State.”
Ntuala has applied for a $10,000 grant to fund coach training. The idea came from watching his son’s soccer team.
“In a brief exchange with my son’s coach, I noticed that he interacts with a very diverse student population, right?” says Ntuala. But they also interact with their families. Therefore, students may see things invisible to them. ”
Coaches complete two different mental health training programs, Trauma 101 and Mental Health First Aid.
The goal is to complete it before spring sports start.
