No bullies on Ava Morton’s watch.
Ava, an eighth-grader at Mountaineer Middle School, is known for the way she positively intervenes to quell bullying in her school perched high atop Price Street in Morgantown.
“People are different in their own ways,” she said.
“I feel like how people express themselves is OK,” the student continued. “They should be able to do that without people bullying them.”
Her advocacy for students from all walks is why Ava was named Mon Schools’ Student of the Month for November. The district made the announcement last week.
Principal Mike Rogers and Mountaineer Middle teachers worked together on the student’s nomination.
Ava, they said, isn’t just known for her anti-bullying advocacy in the hallway and cafeteria.
She also does well in the classroom and is a star on the basketball court for the Mountaineer girls team.
For her, basketball and the books are intertwined.
“I think basketball has made me more focused,” said Ava, who will go out for the team in high school next year, and also hopes to continue playing that sport in college.
Mon’s Student of the Month credits her mom for the foundation of her success.
“She’s a strong woman,” the proud daughter said.
The student is even luckier in that respect, she observed, since her teachers at Mountain Middle also offer strong support.
“They care about you and want to know what your opinion is,” Ava said.
When it comes to her fellow Mountaineer Middle students – in the younger grades, especially – she isn’t shy about offering her opinion on how they can have a better experience in school.
The biggest thing, she said, is just to let some things go.
“People like to try to get to you,” she said. “Be the better person.”
