Nominated - White Pines Middle School - Ely Nevada
White Pines' new
Principal, Aaron Hanson, was fed up with the bullying going on in his Middle
School so he made up an anonymous survey asking his students to tell him who
the bullies were. Then he met with each of the bullies individually and
found a way to help them. He wanted to solve the bully's problem so they
wouldn't take out their anger on others. He even rewarded the bully for
good behavior. It worked! Students are happier and White Pines is
a safe, and happy place to be. Hurrah, for Principal Aaron Hanson and
for his innovative approach to solving bullying.
Nominated - Owen Middle
School - Swannanoa, NC
Our school has responded to bullying problems with an
innovative, multi-disciplinary program called "Sticks & Stones: Words
Can Never Hurt Me!" The program began with an assembly for
a storytelling presentation about bullying in a middle school like Owen.
In the story the students learned that bullies are often victims who need
the help of counselors and teachers instead of the bravest and strongest
kids in school. Then the students acted out dramas developed with
the school counselors about actual bullying scenarios in their social studies
classes. Playing the "roles" of bully, victim and bystanders gave the students
a hands-on view of bullying in their school. Follow up discussion about
the feelings of the victim in each drama and the appropriate responses
to bullying incidents were lively and effective. Each student then
wrote their own "Personal Code Of Ethics," which is kept in the counseling
office where it is referred to when conflicts arise. Finally, 7th Grade
students received a special writing workshop as part of the program. Students
created fictional characters and placed them in situations with imaginary
bullies during the writing workshop. Nominated by Donna
Marie Todd
Nominated - The Joseph
Shaner Elementary School - Mays Landing, NJ
Our school is one of three in our
K-8 district (Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, NJ) who have been recognized
by the NJ State Department of Education with Best Practice Award in Character
Education (1995) as well as being named a Blue Ribbon School District (1996)
in this state. Here at Shaner School we have a strong character education
program, and anti-bullying program in kindergarten and my own Empathy Training
program used in first grade. We have a zero tolerance policy for those
who may attempt to bully others. In all areas of school; the buses, playground,
cafeteria, hallways, bathrooms and classrooms, bullying and intimidation
is not tolerated. All students who enter in kindergarten are taught the
year-long anti-bullying program. Character Education is taught monthly
with a new character word of the month highlighted throughout the school.
We start in September with Respect! When students progress to first grade
I continue the anti-bullying program with my Empathy Training program I
wrote as my master's thesis. This program takes the anti-bullying program
a step further and teaches the students how to act and respond to their
peers and teachers; in an empathetic manner. Our school district continues
the anti-bullying program in our elementary school; The Hess Educational
Complex and our middle school; The Davies School. I am proud to nominate
Shaner School for the School-Rules-The-Bully-Award! Dorothy Schoenstein,
School Counselor
Nominated - Washington Elementary
School District - Phoenix, Arizona
Washington Elementary School District
is a leader in Arizona for many reasons. Adopting an anti-bully policy
is mandated by AZ state law. The reason WESD is a leader is because
every school in the district has adopted and implemented an Bully PREVENTION
program, in addition to a districtwide anti-bully POLICY. The district
gave schools two programs from which to choose. My school chose the
Olweus Bully Prevention Program. I love it! It has made a huge
difference! I am proud to say that I teach for this district.
WAY TO GO WESD!!! Pam R.
Nominated - St. Mary's Episcopal
School - Edmond, Oklahoma
"I am a teacher at St. Mary's Episcopal
School in Edmond, OK. All schools can have problems with bullying
and we are no exception although the problem is small in our school.
When students have a problem with each other we ask them "what do you think
you should do?" We try to teach them to problem solve on their own
and most of the time they do a good job. If they don't know what
to do we give them some suggestions. We then tell them to go back
to the student who they are having a problem with and tell them to talk
to them. If there is still a problem we tell that student to come
back and tell us, then we will help them by talking to both students.
Using hands is never a solution to solving a problem. Bullying is
never tolerated and we always address problems immediately. Cindi
Nominated - University Park Elementary
– Fairbanks, Alaska
"After learning about my daughter’s bullycide from my
sister who is the attendance secretary at the school they formed an anti
bullying board and adopted an anti bullying policy without a mandate from
the state. They also invited me to speak at the school. The
principal then informed the middle school in the area that I would be there
and suggested I speak there. I spoke at a total of 3 assemblies for
grades 6-8th. I commend the University Park Administration and staff
for their proactive approach to stop bullying in their school."
Rochelle Sides, Co-Director, Bully Police USA
Nominated - The Prentice School
- Orange, California
"When Samantha (one of my twins) first started at this
private school, she had been bullied and teased about her disability at
Promenade Elementary so she was a little nervous. Her second day
at school she noticed a boy crying at recess. She asked him what
happened and he said another boy punched him. Samantha then saw a
teacher approach with the bully who had hit this boy. The teacher
made the boy apologize that minute and then proceeded to the office.
The bully was expelled. Zero Tolerance. It was a great message
for Samantha at her new school."
Denise K.
