The Sioux City Project
It began with presentations to various employee groups at the joint invitation of the Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention, a foundation promoting multiple prevention programs in the district, and the District. The District's new Superintendent Dr. Paul Gausman made the commitment to prevent and correct adult bullying during his first year.
An interdisciplinary employee group was assembled to write the explicit anti-bullying policy and comprehensive enforcement procedures with the help of Work Doctor consultants. The School Board approved the policy in January, 2009. In addition to the policy, the original group created a permanent internal resource team called the Bullying Prevention Advocates. [Note: one of the original BPA team members is Smith Elementary School special education teacher Kim Vermilyea who was selected as the Iowa Special Education Teacher of the Year in 2009! She continues the tradition that only the best want bullying to stop.]
In September 2009, BPA volunteer members -- representing teachers, support staff, and administrators -- participated in three intensive days of preparation by Work Doctor consultants (Namie, Namie, Clark) for their future roles as peer coaches and educators, as experts in the phenomenon.
The formal launch is scheduled for November, 2009.
9/09 Pre-Launch Comments
Steve Crary, Director of Human Resources, SCCSD.
Alan Heisterkamp, Ed.D., Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention consultant to the project
Carrie Clark, MA, Teacher consultant
Gary Namie, Ph.D., Work Doctor lead consultant for project
Our ultimate goal is to have all employees stand together and say we do not tolerate bullying in the Sioux City School district.