As part of her leadership project for the University of the Cumberlands, Shari Davis wanted to create something meaningful. What began as a simple idea for a wooden bench soon blossomed into a powerful tool for connection on her preschool playground. For Davis, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, it was not just about meeting a requirement, it was about making a lasting impact..
“I noticed when I would go outside, there were always a few kids sitting alone, unsure of how to join in or just needing someone to talk to,” Davis recalled. “They would come to me looking for someone to play with. I wanted them to have a way to make those connections without always needing an adult to step in.”
That spark of observation led her to the idea of a Buddy Bench, which is a designated space on the Carroll County Child Development Center’s playground where children can sit if they’re feeling lonely, need a break, or are simply looking for a friend. The idea wasn’t new to Davis. Years earlier, her own son, Maverick, met one of his lifelong friends thanks to a similar bench at his school. That memory became the heart of her vision.
“I thought back to when Maverick was in school and a little girl walked up to him while he sat on the Buddy Bench and asked if he wanted to play,” she said. “They’re still best friends. That moment stuck with me, and I knew this could work for our students, too.”
Rather than a quick and easy project, Davis chose something that would engage students and staff alike, which aligned perfectly with her school’s use of the Conscious Discipline curriculum, which emphasizes unity, empathy, and the concept of a “school family.” With her plan in place, she reached out to Josh Kennedy, carpentry teacher at the Carroll County Area Technology Center (ATC), to see if his students could help build the bench. “I provided the lumber, sent him some sketches, and he said they could have it ready in a week,” she said. “The students did an amazing job.”
Davis’ father, Carroll County Schools Maintenance Director Dwayne Smith, picked up the finished bench and brought it to her school. Then, with help from her daughter and the preschool students themselves, they painted it in bright, cheerful colors and added handprints and a small flower garden to give it life and personality. “We wanted it to be something fun and joyful—something that would draw attention but also make kids feel happy and safe,” she explained.
One of her colleagues, Ann Leap, contributed her creative touch by painting the words “Buddy Bench” as if they were flying through the sky behind an airplane, giving the bench a whimsical finish.
The team placed the bench right in the center of the playground, making it visible from all directions. “We wanted teachers to see it, too, so they can guide kids toward it, but what’s been even better is seeing students take that initiative on their own,” Davis said. “It’s always more special when a child notices someone on the bench and goes over to say, ‘Do you want to play with me?’”
And that’s exactly what’s been happening.
There have been moments of quiet, like when a little girl sat on the bench for a few minutes, telling Davis, “I just need a minute.” Then there have been joyful reunions, like when a preschooler saw an older friend returning for kindergarten transition and leapt from the bench to greet him. The bench is not just a seat, it’s a bridge.
“The older kids are modeling inclusion, and the younger ones are learning just by watching. They’re forming friendships across age groups,” Davis said. “We even had a little boy draw a picture of the bench with two figures on it and said it was his favorite place. They understand what it’s for.”
CCCDC Director Leah Spencer said just this week, she was on the playground and a little boy asked her to sit with him on the Buddy Bench. “It was such a simple moment, but it spoke volumes about the impact this bench is already having. Shari’s project has created a safe, welcoming space where students feel seen, heard, and connected and that’s exactly the kind of culture we strive for every day,” she added.