This is the presentation made by Birdville ISD at the 2011 TASA Midwinter Conference.

1. School Cyber Bullying Conference Learn How to Appropriately Intervene in Bullying Situations November 8, 2010 Donna J. Layer , M.Ed. Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling Services Birdville Independent School District Fort Worth, Texas

2. C.O.R.E. Community of Respect Everywhere

3. Community of Respect Everywhere Where have we been? The campus and central office administration realized that parents had made some valid statements about a need for a full review of all policies and procedures relating to bullying. Therefore, the superintendent assigned the emergency management team to work on a comprehensive plan to address the parents’ concerns.

4. Community of Respect Everywhere BISD Community of Respect Task Force A diverse group of district and community members were invited to participate in a task force addressing current issues regarding bullying brought to our attention. Our goal was to define, identify behaviors, discuss positive responses and develop a district wide system to provide a climate of change beginning with the 2010-11 school year.

5. Community of Respect Everywhere Bullying (From BISD’s Code of Conduct) Bullying means engaging in written or verbal expression or physical conduct that school personnel determine: Will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property or is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the student (Texas Education Code 25.0342). No student shall engage in any form of bullying, nor shall any student encourage or assist any other person in bullying.

6. Community of Respect Everywhere What Bullying is Not Bullying does not include normal childhood behavior such as sibling rivalry or one-on-one fighting of siblings or peers with competing claims. Nor does it include acts of impulsive aggression-in other words, aggression that is a spontaneous, indiscriminate striking out, with no intended target. Such aggression is often related to a physical or mental handicap, such as autism or Asperger’s syndrome (high functioning autism), and must not be dismissed or excused, but it is not bullying. Spontaneous, deliberate, indiscriminate striking out also may be a response by a bullied kid to an attack by a bully, but it is not bullying. Bullying does not include criminal activities that may have begun as a conflict and escalated. Source: Excerpts from “The Bully, The Bullied, and the Bystander,” Barbara Coloroso © 2002 www.kidsareworthit.com kids are worth it, inc. 800.729.1588 • fax 303.972.1204

7. Community of Respect Everywhere Cyberbullying Bullying doesn’t just happen face to face. It includes electronic communications, including: e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, etc.

8. Community of Respect Everywhere Staff: Are you a bully? In addition to the state’s definition of bullying, staff also bully when they consistently use degrading negative comments openly about a student or students. Whether this is one student or a whole class, it is still bullying.

9. Community of Respect Everywhere Community of Respect Everywhere, C.O.R.E., is an ongoing initiative throughout Birdville ISD backed by the philosophy that promotes positive and safe learning climates while developing responsibility, accountability and respect. Each of us teaches character education by the way we talk, the behaviors we model, the conduct we tolerate, the deeds we encourage, and the expectations we transmit. It is not one more thing on our plate…it is the plate.

10. Community of Respect Everywhere Where do we go from here? District must embrace this as a critical focus at all levels Training for staff and students must take place and it must be throughout the year Every campus must address this issue, determine a plan to implement, and include it in their campus improvement plan.

11. Community of Respect Everywhere What have we done? Formed Community of Respect Task Force Instigated Independent Investigation of Current District Policy Contacted and consulted with Barbara Coloroso, internationally renowned expert Developed protocol and procedures for reporting incidents on campus. Arranged presentation by speaker Justin Lookadoo for counselors, task force members, principals and Leadership on communication, respect and climate change Expand Crime Stoppers on every campus Reinstate character education/virtues. . . C.O.R.E. values Developed Safety Zone website

12. Community of Respect Everywhere C.O.R.E. Values for 2010-11 School Year First six weeks – Responsibility Second six weeks – Empathy Third six weeks – Kindness Fourth six weeks – Honesty Fifth six weeks – Acceptance Sixth six weeks – Courage

13. Community of Respect Everywhere http://www.birdvilleschools.net /safetyzone/

14. Community of Respect Everywhere Activities Happening on the Campuses Campus task forces established to facilitate/oversee initiatives-including students from all ranges Incorporated messages with C.O.R.E. values over announcements, in newsletters, on websites using video clips, public service announcements, motivation quotes, etc. Adopting a community service project in which all staff and students can participate Display cases showing C.O.R.E. values Theatre Arts departments writing and performing skits Athletic teams visiting elementary schools as mentors and community hospitals to visit and assist patients modeling C.O.R.E. values

15. Community of Respect Everywhere Activities Happening on the Campuses Coaches incorporating values/character lessons into practice sessions Classroom teachers incorporating C.O.R.E. values in discussions, writing assignments, projects, etc. Music departments writing jingles to support C.O.R.E. values Random Acts of Kindness recognitions Art department designs signs and posters depicting C.O.R.E. values

16. Community of Respect Everywhere Activities Happening on the Campuses Guest speakers presenting citizenship/character values to students/staff/parents Anonymous “Pay it Forward” certificates are distributed throughout the district to keep the message of C.O.R.E. circulating “Safety Zones” established on campuses Promotion of Crime Stoppers program Utilize district protocol for reporting incidents on campus

17. Community of Respect Everywhere Student-on-Student Altercation Response Chart

18. Community of Respect Everywhere Resources available to victims and offenders www.birdvilleschools.net BISD Evening Counseling Services BISD Evening Family Group Education Program Safe Haven-a nonprofit organization that exists to end violence through safety, support, prevention and social change Parenting Center-providing the tools to succeed through family life education classes, counseling, in home case management, and co-parenting services Other local agencies and counselors

19. Community of Respect Everywhere References Coloroso, B. (2009). The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander: From Preschool to High School--How Parents and Teachers Can Help Break the Cycle (Updated Edition) (Updated ed.). New York: Collins Living. Eklind, D. H., & Sweet, F. (n.d.). How to Do Character Education. Character Education - Free Resources, Materials, Lesson Plans. Retrieved October 21, 2010, from http://www.goodcharacter.com/Article_4.html Barney Fudge, Consultant for School Health and SDFSC, ESC Region XI bfudge@esc11.net Phone 817.740.7637, Mailing Address: ESC Region XI, 3001 North Freeway, Fort Worth, Texas Justin Lookadoo, national speaker and author, Bullies on the Playground www.lookadoo.com Phone 310.489.7181, Mailing address: P.O. Box 3104, McKinney, Texas 75070 Eric May, Director of Prevention Services, SafeHaven of Tarrant County www.safehaventc.org Phone 817.546.6040 x 239, Mailing address: 6815 Manhattan Blvd. Suite 105, Ft. Worth, Texas 76120, Hotline 1.877.701.SAFE (7233) Kim Rocha, Center Coordinator, Alliance for Children, KRocha@AllianceforChildren.org Phone 817-427-3110 x 101, Mailing Address: 625 Grapevine Highway, Hurst, Texas 76054 www.values.com

20. Community of Respect Everywhere “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

21. Community of Respect Everywhere Copies of this presentation and the handouts are available at slideshare.com.