Mr. Webb is a retired law enforcement professional turned life coach/ youth advocate.  Leonard is also an adjunct faculty member teaching Criminal Justice at Potomac State College of West Virginia University.  He offers a unique perspective about the School to Prison Pipeline as well as solutions.  He has seen both ends of the pipeline.  He has seen young people enter his office in prison and young people with similar demographics enter his college classroom.  This led him to find out, “Why ?”.    

He learned those students who drop out of school exit the school door eventually take to the streets, away from any structure, probably away from any responsible adults, looking for something but not knowing exactly what.  It doesn’t take long before they follow the prison pipeline.  Some don’t drop out but they are involved in school discipline.  Due to zero tolerance policies and being identified as “at risk” they are sent to alternative schools or court programs which are set up like prisons.   

Leonard’s hope is to highlight the pressing need for addressing these issues and ending the pipeline to prison.  He provides coaching and strategies to young people to break this cycle and focus on academic success and resilience.  He consults and trains educators with strategies to help them connect with students, focus on student's strengths, and provide the support that improves behavior rather than relying on discipline.