For Angelica-Jasmine Bates, teaching leadership starts with connection. As a Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL) teacher in Plano ISD, she brings energy, empathy, and lived experience into the classroom, helping students grow into confident, compassionate leaders.
Ms. Bates’s journey with PAL came full circle. She was once a PAL student herself, graduating from Plano ISD after attending Jasper and Plano West. “PALs really made me a better leader within my community,” she shared.
Now in her second year leading the program, Ms. Bates jumped at the chance to guide the next generation. When the opportunity arose, she didn’t hesitate. “I wanted to be involved, and I knew that these students need the opportunity to grow within themselves,” she said. Under her guidance, students build essential skills like communication, confidence, boundary-setting, and teamwork, all while supporting their peers.
PAL classes with Ms. Bates are anything but ordinary. Students give TED-style talks to practice public speaking, mentor younger students at local elementary and middle schools, and spend intentional time with special education peers to foster inclusion. Ms. Bates believes these moments matter just as much as the curriculum. “Being a PAL student made me better each and every day, because I wanted to be an inspiration and make a difference in the community. I'm happy that I now get to encourage my own students to do the same.”
Through her approachable leadership style and genuine care for students, Ms. Bates is doing more than teaching a class. She’s helping students find their voices, their confidence, and their place in the community.