Associate Superintendent Amy presented a fall report from the Jay Foundation at the Oct. 27 Natrona County School District #1 board meeting, saying the program seeks to "bridge the silence" around suicide and mental health through "boot check" moments and student-led outreach.

District staff said all four NCSD high schools participated this fall. Amy reported 826 students participated and the district received about 101 adults and volunteers for 927 pairs of boots handed out across the high schools. Four student ambassadors — Parker Giese and Joel Jimenez from Kelly Walsh High School, and Mary Kate Lacco and Charles Frosto from Natrona County High School — described training at a summer retreat and the peer activities they now run, including weekly boot-check reminders, self-check forms in Google Classroom and monthly outreach events.

Student ambassadors emphasized peer connection and vulnerability. Parker Giese said the program helped him bring tools "to better our school," including "boot check Mondays" and structured check-ins. Charles Frosto described the boot check as a "state of mind" that asks people to notice when others are struggling and to ask how they are doing "how are you really?"

Staff acknowledged community support and donors. The presentation cited an estimated 500 volunteers during distribution weeks and named donor organizations and individuals including the McMurray Foundation, the Natrona Collective Health Trust, Hilltop Bank, Jonah Bank, the Roan family, TW Foundation, Vista Toyota and others.

The board received the report; trustees praised the student ambassadors for their leadership and the district’s partnership with the Jay Foundation.