Middle school is often the time when students develop a clear sense of who they are. Self-esteem and self- efficacy are built. We put students in the driver's seat. They are asked to learn to make choices about their educational journey, ideally grounded in a strong sense of who they are. We begin with awareness activities designed for teachers and student to together identify potential, strengths, interests and talents. Social understanding and life-skills development is woven into the curriculum and the fabric of our culture. Students are taught to self-advocate for their intellectual, academic, creative, and social-emotional needs.