Jason Carney

Jason Carney is an English teacher who is a founder of two growing clubs at Lakeview. He is passionate about both and feels they are important for students.

Safe Haven, formerly known as the Gay-Straight Alliance, is sponsored by Carney as a place for LGBTQ+ students to be heard and have a safe space.

“I think what we want to do with this club is build awareness on campus,” Carney said. “We’re really starting to build safe spaces on this campus and have a conversation that’s more inclusive of everyone.”

According to Carney, Safe Haven is needed to give students who identify as LGBTQ+ a space that is their own.

“We have clubs for certain groups,” Carney said. “Having a space that is just for the LGBTQ+ community is important.”

Senior Safe Haven member Drew Hartweg said that the club has given him opportunities that he otherwise would not have had.

“It has given me a community to know I am not alone in my journey of self discovery,” Hartweg said. “I’ve made friends with great people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”

Louder Than A Bomb (LTAB), a writing program held during school, is about helping students to become more comfortable in their writing.

“LTAB is really about students finding voice; finding definition of who they are,” Carney said.

Carney feels that poetry is important to students in growing as a person.

“It gives self definition,” Carney said. “It allows you to grow and expand past your boundaries.”

Junior Madison Wester said that LTAB has helped her improve overall as a person.

“I’ve created a family with the members of LTAB and they inspire me each day to be the best person capable,” Wester said. “I have a group of people who influence me to do well and strive for my goals.”

According to Carney, the clubs’ intentions are to help students find themselves.

“Watching a student become empowered with their own voice and their own definition of themselves, that’s what matters to me.” Carney said.