By Lillian Bradford

December 2025

When you come into TJ and make your way to B206, you’ll find arguably the kindest and most welcoming room in the whole building. Emily Leininger’s Life Skills classroom sits just at the beginning of the history wing, with an open door, dim lights, and a soft, friendly chatter filling the room. 

Life Skills students, more commonly known as special education students, are children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, who need extra assistance in the classroom. Leininger’s Life Skills students are extraordinary, and have a wide range of intriguing hobbies and impressive talents. For example, if you are in need of arachnid facts, Nitesh can help in a pinch. If you want to know the score of the last Pirates game, just ask Collin! Each of Leininger’s life skills students are unique in their own ways and worth getting to know.

At Thomas Jefferson, there are multiple ways to get involved with these students, including joining the school’s Best Buddies chapter. Best Buddies is an international organization that strives to foster inclusion for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) through friendship, employment, leadership development, and more, in schools and communities. This organization has chapters at high schools and universities all across the globe, bringing opportunities and awareness to those with IDDs. 

The high school also has Unified Bocce and Flag Football teams through Special Olympics, and a Partners in PE class. Partners in Physical Education pairs athletes (or students with disabilities) with partners. Together, students learn and play games that develop motor and communication skills. 

Jennifer McHugh, a beloved physical education teacher, instructs TJ’s Partners class, and leads her students through games like football, basketball, and capture the flag. Students involved with these programs get the chance to grow close to the Life Skills students - garnering mentors, friends, and lifelong memories.

One of Leininger’s students who is particularly loved by their peers is junior Cortland Neigh. Neigh is a part of the Unified Bocce and Flag Football teams, and throws discus and shot put with the track and field team. His best friends are fellow juniors Deacon Kamberis, Kane Eggerton, and Justin Fry. Neigh was born with Downs Syndrome, but that does not stop him from living his life to the fullest. 

Apart from being a big fishing and sports guy, Neigh also participates in Best Buddies. During the club's weekly meetings, he enjoys playing Wii Sports on the TV and basketball with his “boys” in the gym. His favorite memory from his time in the club is attending the Minute To Win It field trip hosted by Wash High. He enjoyed the stacking cups challenge, in which players competed to be the fastest to stack plastic cups and paper plates in a specific pattern.

Neigh is very well-known within TJHS. As he walks through the halls, "What’s up, Cort!" echoes throughout. His joy and laughter is beyond contagious, and his high spirits never fail to brighten up a room. Neigh wears his love for life on his sleeve, and passes this passion on to every one he knows. 

Best Buddies secretary and two-year club member, Jacob Surrena, spoke about his experience being involved with the Life Skills students. Surrena partakes in the club to meet new people and broaden his horizons. He states that a benefit of Best Buddies is “making new friends and giving the kids excitement.” The reward of working with Life Skills students is truly a feeling like no other. 

Best Buddies at TJ is sponsored by Special Education teacher Emily Leininger, alongside Physical Education teacher Michael Rose. Together, they created the club that we know and love today. Rose recently spoke about his time sponsoring. The club started during the 2019-20 school year. Rose said, “We did it for Covid, so 6 years ago. We did some different drive-bys - certain students went to the kids' front yards to wave through the window and do different things, to just sort of brighten each other’s days.”

Since his childhood, Rose has loved helping others. He stated, “One of my best friends growing up had a sister with Downs Syndrome, so it's always something that has always been sort of close to me.... it's just something that, you know, I always enjoy and was rewarding for me so I wanted to continue to do that and help kids out.” His drive for service is visible in his compassion for his students. 

Being involved with the Life Skills students in any form has many benefits in the long run. Rose agrees and says, “I think it boosts everyone's moods honestly... And I truly think it has helped a lot of our kids become more empathetic and understanding as well. Once they really get to know these kids they develop some really nice friendships.” Not only does the club bring immense joy to its members, it also instills patience and understanding.

This club is ideal for students who plan on pursuing a career in education. Learning how to handle certain situations, behaviors, and disabilities will serve as a foundation for college and beyond. Not only are these skills useful in the classroom, but also in all aspects of life. 

From new friendships to career skills, students have opportunities to thrive and make memories that will last a lifetime. Hopefully, the club continues to grow and make an impact on more people each day. 

Lily is a senior at TJ. She is on the Unified Bocce team, plays softball, is the editor-in-chief of the yearbook, and is involved in many clubs. She is attending Duquesne University in the fall to study Secondary English Education and Special Education, with a minor in Public Relations and Marketing. 

For feedback, questions, concerns, or comments on the profiles section, contact Lily via email at lb43733@students.wjhsd.net.