Niesha Braggs has distinguished herself by demonstrating an “Outstanding” commitment to serve and mentor students in Fayette County. She applied to be a mentor while she was working as a bus driver for Fayette County Schools. Her desire to connect with every student who entered her bus lit a spark in her to do as much as she could to support Fayette County Students. Two years ago, when Niesha first started working as a bus driver, she began to see that she had to do more than get students to and from school each day.

She talked about different conflicts that would arise on her bus that sharpened her intuitiveness. She learned that conflict had history and each incident was not just a random instance. “While our driving incidents can feel like they come out of nowhere, I knew that if I had a deeper connection with each of my riders, they would be more likely to keep their hands to themselves. At the end of the day, they’re more likely to respect someone as someone if they're a person to them,” she expressed. She knew she had to focus on treating each of her riders as humans… not just riders. That mindset changed not only changed the way she operated her bus but the way she interacted with all the students that were in her path.

At the plight of the pandemic, Niesha wanted to support her daughter who is a Fayette County Student. She was a bus driver, and soon became a substitute teacher, and a mentor within the Friends Mentoring Program. All of which were opportunities to make a positive impact on students while staying close to her daughter. When Niesha applied to a mentor she said she was committed to give her best to her mentee. She was punctual, consistent, and even brought her mentee cake and a bunch of balloons for her mentee’s birthday.

After a few months of meeting with her first mentee, the student communicated that she was moving to a different school. This was a moment that Niesha could have opted out. She could have decided that her season mentoring was over but instead, she emailed me right away and asked if she could continue mentoring at Bennett’s Mill with another student. Her current mentee is a student who has some behavioral challenges and can lack some motivation in her classes. It has been a different mentoring experience for Niesha but she has shown herself to be just as committed and just as heartfelt. Niesha has proven herself to be an advocate for her mentee. Every now and again she will send emails to the behavior specialist, and the student’s counselor to communicate about their weekly meetings and assure that the student and her village of support are on the same page. Niesha is a great example of giving her best as a mentor while having a busy schedule.

Niesha currently has an opportunity to enter back into the film industry and just got accepted into a college to complete her degree. Even with new and exciting endeavors in her future, Niesha is keeping mentoring at the forefront of her weekly schedule. She is an example of always looking for opportunities to invest in the lives of the next generation. Whether that be through subbing, her film job, being a mom, or spending time with her mentee, she sees the value in making young people feel loved and important. That is what makes Niesha an “outstanding” mentor.