Finding Their Rhythm: Inside Falling Creek Middle School Step Team

The sound of synchronized clapping and stomping echoes through the gym at Falling Creek Middle School, but the girls on the team are building more than rhythm; they are building a community. 

For Coach Alexis Cole Bell and her partner Destanie Smith, a counselor at Falling Creek, the new step team provides an extracurricular group for young ladies, making them feel seen, supported, and confident.

“I’m a PBIS coach, which stands for Positive Behavior Intervention and Support. It provides an extra layer of support for students that may be struggling, either at home or school,” said Bell.

“I think here at our school, a lot of our kids go through a lot at home and I think school is an escape for them to get away from the reality of things that happen at home,” said Smith.

This support provides a positive structure for the girls, allowing them to be physically active with extracurricular activities at school.

“My reasoning for wanting a step team was because I pledged a sorority in college and I just wanted to be a positive influence on females. We also provide small group sessions during practice,” said Smith.

In these group sessions, they ask the girls what’s going on in their lives. If  a girl shares a current conflict, they have conversations about how to solve it in a positive way. 

When the girls are having issues, Bell and Smith try their hardest to have them keep going. The step team can help with confidence and overcoming mistakes.

“We’re teaching them to keep going and I think that, over time, with them performing and getting acclimated in front of the crowd, they have built that self-confidence,” said Bell. 

Students like Rimiayah Carter and Maisie Lloyd express how they feel about being on the team and how it has impacted them.

“I have never tried stepping before, I have tried all other sports so I wanted to try something new,” said Maisie. 

“I wanted to do an activity with my sister., She wanted to do step and I wanted to do it with her so we can be together,” said Rimiayah. 

The girls expressed how great it feels performing and being in a team with the other girls. It is not just a step team to them, it's a sisterhood. The girls bond together very well.

“It feels good being a part of the team because the girls are like my sisters and it's very fun with them,” said Rimiayah.

Maisie proceeds to say, “It makes me feel like I'm not alone because if I was doing it by myself, I would have a lot of anxiety.” 

On and off the step team, Bell and Smith play a huge role in the girls’ lives. They have been great role models for the team.

“When we are stepping or not stepping, Coach Bell and Miss Smith are like our school moms,” said Rimiayah.

Maisie added, “Coach Bell is a part of PBIS and she teaches us to be responsible. Coach Bell and Miss Smith are basically like moms to us. We’ve been through everything together.”

Rimiayah and Maisie encourage girls who think about joining the team to join because it is a great experience.

“We don’t just step at practice, we’ve studied before and even had parties,” said Rimiayah.

Partnerships can be very powerful, especially for supporting extracurricular programs at schools. Start 1 Spark has been a generous supporter of Falling Creek Middle School.

“For students, there may be schools that are wealthier than others but at Falling Creek, there are students who come from poverty. Start 1 Spark was nice enough to provide the shirts and boots for the team because sometimes students might not have the economic means to get a pair of boots,” said Bell.

Bell and Smith hope to see the step team as a big asset for Falling Creek Middle School and hope that the girls continue to make good choices. They also want them to be positive influencers on other kids at the school and put their best foot forward.