Former Advanced Placement Psychology teacher David Pickard is in the process of revamping Pali’s chapter of Link Crew.
According to the Boomerang Project, the group that founded Link Crew, the program is a nationwide leadership organization with a mission to set freshmen up with upperclassmen mentors. Pali’s Link Crew program currently has 126 upperclassmen Link Crew leaders.
Pali Executive Director and Principal Pamela Magee stated that personnel changes prompted the opening of the position to direct Link Crew. Magee created a written application that was open to all Pali High faculty. Those who showed interest underwent a series of interviews with a holistic selection process, Magee said.
“Ultimately our selection committee decided [Pickard] was the right person to reboot and revamp this program,” she said. “He had his own Link Crew experience and was so enthusiastic.”
Pickard was appointed the position of Career and Technical Education Coordinator and Link Crew Coordinator for the 2024-25 school year.
He stated that his goals for his first year in charge of Link Crew were to “revitalize and renew the program.”
Link Crew coordinates Pali’s freshman and new student orientations. However, Pickard intends to expand the events Link Crew organizes.
“We are planning a ninth-grade tailgate before the JV [football] game, a movie night in the quad, and really just growing our presence on campus,” he said.
Magee explained the need for change within Pali’s Link Crew has served as a catalyst for Pickard’s new implementations.
“We were hearing feedback from freshmen and felt that there are some things that we could do that would make the program better,” Magee said. “I think Pali takes student opinions very seriously; we value their feedback and will try to make changes to ensure a personable experience on campus.”
Pickard added, “We’ve done an overhaul with the whole program and we are just trying to be thoughtful and intentional with each change we make.”
During the summer break, Pickard attended a three-day national conference held by Link Crew to teach and train program personnel across the country. He explained how his involvement in Link Crew as a high schooler prompted his interest in the position.
“I remember from my own high school experience how impactful this program can be, and I was disheartened when I came to Pali and saw our own Link Crew program falling short of those standards,” Pickard said.
Junior Anne Kelly became a Link Crew leader this year. She recounted her own experience at orientation her freshman year.
“Before Mr. Pickard, Link Crew never did anything beyond orientation. After orientation, I never heard back from them again,” Kelly said. “I thought Link Crew was kind of a waste of time.”
Under Pickard’s leadership, Link Crew leaders’ role increased to a full-year commitment. Leaders also had to attend summer training and were given new uniforms. From Aug. 5-8, Link Crew gathered to train for the coming year and organize events and activities.
“It felt like a full-time job, but we walked out of Pali more confident and bonded with each other,” Kelly said.
Pickard explained how he wants the student leaders to be as involved in the program redesign.
“Our upperclassmen leaders are integral to the program and it was vital to me that they were included in every step of the decision-making process,” Pickard said. “They were able to give their opinions and help this program best appeal to other students.”
Freshman Lilou Hashemi described her experience with Link Crew this year.
“The adjustment to high school was scary, yet [Link Crew] made it manageable,” Hashemi said. “They felt like the older siblings I didn’t have, passing on their wisdom.”
Magee expressed the importance of Pali’s Link Crew program on campus for students.
“I’ve seen it firsthand year after year, those [Link Crew leaders] have that sense of ownership and feelings that they are truly making a difference for new Pali students,” she said.
Hashemi corroborated this idea as she reflected on the impact Link Crew had on her transition to high school.
“I would love to eventually become a Link Crew leader and be there for future freshmen like my leaders were there for me,” she said.
