Free leadership program
A free leadership program for high schoolers who want to leave their school better than they found it.
One-minute form, then we schedule an intro call. Open to students at US public and charter high schools.
How it works
Doorstop Education is a nonprofit that helps students fix their schools. This is a free leadership program for high schoolers who want to change something:
You pick an issue
Changing the curriculum, repairing broken bathrooms, improving mental health resources, a schoolwide policy, or something of your own.
We pair you with a mentor
A mentor like Ben (Princeton ’24) works with you every week, shares advice, and makes sure the project actually lands.
You leave your school better than you found it, and it’s a genuinely strong extracurricular if college applications are on your mind. Free, always.
Already done
Gotten approval for a schoolwide day off for new holidays
Funded bathroom repairs
Changed toxic culture around not eating during lunch
Short on time?
Weekly mentorship is a real commitment, and not everyone has the room for it right now. If you care about this but your schedule is already full, become a Student Ambassador instead.
Ambassadors get Doorstops to their classmates, help set up one Doorstop Session at their school, and take one 30-minute call a month to tell us what is breaking there. A few hours a month, one month to one semester, and you can step up to the full program whenever you are ready.
How change works
We provide step-by-step guides, survey templates, power mapping, and mentorship for two issues: school policies and school culture.
Changing a policy
Surveys, photos, counts, and the rule as written. Numbers beat complaints.
Line up allies before you ask: teachers, student council, parents, a board member. Hear objections early.
One specific ask, to the person who can say yes: an email, a meeting, then public comment.
Changing a culture
Some students have outsized influence on how their friends act. Ask around: who do people here listen to? Aim for one per friend group.
Something publicly visible, and the same for everyone. Like: stop asking people what they got on a test.
Explain the idea and ask for the one thing. When they change their behavior, so does everyone else.
Get started
Fill out our one-minute form and we’ll set up an intro call. No application essay, no cost, and open to all U.S. public and charter high school students.
Questions first? Email ben@fix.school
