Jack Murphy, Responsive Services Counselor at Garland ISD, enjoys working with students at Lakeview Centennial High School four days a week and Couch Collegiate Prep one day a week. He began working at Garland ISD in 2013, and a couple of years ago, he implemented a bicycle repair program for third, fourth and fifth graders at Couch. 
The nine students in the group were referred for different reasons, but they are all valuable contributors to the program. They are learning basic bike maintenance and repairs. Murphy teaches them skills like airing up the tires and fixing flats, then later they learn more difficult repairs such as how to remove and replace chains and brakes.
The kids in the program are referred by the administration and the school counselor.
“They don’t really know why they are there. But it is giving them a place to belong and learn a skill and to just have fun,” Murphy said.
Murphy and the students work on the bikes, and after they are repaired, the bikes are donated to other Garland ISD students. Kids that have no way of getting to and from school each day have received bikes, and some who have never owned a bicycle get to experience bike ownership. Some of the recipients have even needed to be taught how to ride the bike.
One girl in the program knew someone that she wanted to have a bicycle. So, when the repairs were finished, the bike was given
to the Couch ES third grader that the girl had chosen.
“It creates a community where the students see that this is something they are good at, and they are a part of, and they enjoy it,” Murphy said.
It also gives them an opportunity to learn about the importance of community service. They even repaired a bicycle and donated it to a high school student who had no form of transportation at home. Now she uses it to get to school and the grocery store.
“It’s great to see how these students enjoy helping others,” Murphy said.
The program started with very little, but former and current GISD staff members have really come through by donating 95 percent of the bikes that have been repaired and donated. The Garland Education Foundation also provided a grant that is being used to buy parts and other necessary items.
“It has been really special how the Garland ISD community has helped out and supported this [program],” Murphy said.
He shared that when he and his wife were in graduate school they lived in an apartment where they provided social services in exchange for the rent. He had noticed kids in the neighborhood with bicycles in need of repair and decided that teaching them to work on their bikes would be a good service project. 
He decided to try the same kind of project at school, and so far, it has been a grand success. They have given away 21 bikes and have three more ready to donate.
Murphy added that riding a bicycle is great for mental health. It also provides a sense of freedom and independence, and it’s fun.
He said that he’d love for everyone who wants a bike to become a bike owner, and he feels that learning skills using your hands is good for the students.
“Seeing something that is broken start working gives them [the students] a sense of accomplishment,” Murphy said.
“Sometimes one little thing can give a student a different perspective, and maybe they’ll see that things aren’t as bad as they thought,” Murphy said.
NOTE: Couch Collegiate Prep happily accepts donations of used bicycles. Drop off at 4349 Waterhouse Blvd. in Garland during school hours.