Around 7:50 a.m. on Friday morning, a handful of adults and students wearing Jefferson Elementary School t-shirts were gathered in the parking lot of the old Albertson’s at 37th & Grand. Less than 10 minutes later, the group had grown by nearly 50 before the crowd set off on the walk to school.
Other than students requiring special transportation services for school, all Jefferson students live within the school’s one-mile walk boundary. Despite this, principal Brent Purdue says that most families drive students to school for safety reasons.
At the end of the 2023-24 school year, superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard encouraged families and staff to read “The Anxious Generation” in advance of the district’s adoption of a new cell phone policy and an initiative with LaunchNW to get kids active outside of the school day, Engage IRL.
Jefferson staff and family studied the book together, prompting teachers Tara Stefanoff and Tom Vogt to reflect on the decrease in students walking to school. Starting in October 2024, they organized a weekly walk to school so parents would feel more comfortable letting students walk in a group supervised by teachers.
“Every Friday, rain or shine, the faithful come,” Mr. Vogt said as Mrs. Stefanoff greeted students with hugs. Some families drive to the parking lot to drop off students, and some parents stay to participate in the walk. More than one group of walkers showed up with coffee from Starbucks across the street.
Jefferson Elementary Walks to School by Spokane Schools
“I like walking with all my friends,” said fifth grader Emerson. He has started walking to school sometimes on other days as well.
“Jonathan Haidt, author of ‘The Anxious Generation,’ emphasizes that independence fosters resilience, and walking to school gives kids safe, age-appropriate chances to make decisions and solve small problems,” noted Mr. Perdue. “Over time, these daily experiences strengthen their sense of autonomy and prepare them to handle greater challenges with confidence.”
The Friday walk to Jefferson has become a joyful tradition, bringing students, families, and teachers together. With each step, kids grow more confident and independent, while the community grows stronger.