From Loss to Leadership

Lakeside Turns Tragedy into a Mission to Save Lives

Lakeside High School in Atlanta, GA faced a series of devastating tragedies when five students lost their lives in traffic collisions during the 2024-2025 school year. The grief was overwhelming, creating a rippling effect that touched every corner of the school. 

“Each student we lost had a connection, whether it was in a classroom, a club, a team, or friendships,” said Dr. Susan Stoddard, principal of Lakeside High School. "Their absence was felt so deeply by students, staff, and families alike that healing became an urgent and ongoing focus for us.” 

In the wake of these losses, Dr. Akaki Lekiachvili, a local father, physician, and community leader, knew something had to change. “This heartbreaking reality became the catalyst for founding the Drive Smart Initiative,” he shared. “We simply had to take action.” 

Driven by a mission to prevent future tragedies, the nonprofit organization Drive Smart Initiative, Inc. was developed to provide young drivers with lifesaving education and advocate for data-driven policy reform. “Our focus is twofold,” Dr. Lekiachvili explained. “First, we want to deliver personalized training and guidance to both students and parents to equip them with skills and knowledge they need to stay safe behind the wheel. Second, we aim to inform and shape policies, based on research and evidence, to create a broader and lasting change.” 

In April 2025, the Drive Smart Initiative partnered with the National Safety Council Southeastern Chapter (SCNSC) to bring the Alive at 25 defensive driving course to Lakeside High School. Dr. Stoddard saw the course as a necessary step: “It wasn’t just about education anymore - we needed deeper preventive programming that connected emotionally with our students. Partnering with Drive Smart and offering Alive at 25 was our deliberate step towards giving our students the tools and the mindset to make safer choices behind the wheel.” 

Alive at 25 is a 4-hour defensive driving course that addresses the number one cause of death for teens - motor vehicle crashes. Tailored specifically for drivers aged 15-24, the program focuses on behavior, judgment, and decision-making, helping students recognize how everyday choices like distractions, peer pressure, speeding, and impaired driving can have life-altering consequences. It uses real-world scenarios, interactive discussion, and personal reflection to encourage young drivers to take responsibility for their actions behind the wheel. 

Nearly 100 students participated in the Alive at 25 program launch on Saturday, April 19, 2025 during Easter weekend. “The response was overwhelmingly positive. Students shared how the class made them think twice about distractions and peer pressure,” Dr. Stoddard said. “Staff members also noticed a shift in student conversations and an awareness that they’re not invincible. The tragedies still hang over us, but the message is landing.” 

The Alive at 25 course was part of a larger commitment to creating a culture of safety at Lakeside. The school has also introduced a chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and hosted impaired driving simulators in partnership with law enforcement. These layered efforts send a unified message that safety is not just a rule at Lakeside High School - it’s a core value. 

While the pain of loss will never fully fade, the Lakeside community is determined to carry forward the legacy of the students they lost. “We can’t bring them back,” Dr. Stoddard said, “but we can honor their memory by preventing future loss.” 

Her advice to other schools is simple but powerful. “Talk to your students. It’s not just professional - it’s deeply personal. There’s no leadership program or module that can prepare you for the loss we’ve experienced in our community. But schools must be leaders in this type of situation and help guide difficult conversations about peer pressure, responsibility and grief. We owe it to our students to prepare them for life - not just academically, but emotionally and socially too.” 

Alive at 25 helps teens understand that choosing to drive safely isn’t just for their own wellbeing - it affects everyone around them. Through their partnership with Drive Smart and Alive at 25, Lakeside High School has shown that meaningful driver education can spark change and lead to a larger cultural shift where everyone works together for the same goal. As their school motto reminds them, “No Viking Walks Alone.”