It’s undeniable that in recent years a higher level of focus has been placed on social-emotional growth and learning within school districts across the country.
With that, also comes a greater focus on “emotional security” within the classroom, something USD 253 Emporia administration highlighted as part of a recent student saftey report to the board of education last week. For administration, emotional security usually pertains to the topics of bullying and hazing amongst both students and staff.
According to USD 253 Director of Human Resources Jared Giffin, the district has increased its level of training and education for all staff, faculty and students for bullying prevention in recent years. Giffin says every case of alleged bullying or hazing differs based on the individuals involved as does the building administration’s approach to resolution according to Emporia High School Assistant Principal Trevor Matthews.
Giffin says in cases of bullying that take place outside of the confines of a school building — namely cyberbullying — the district often relies on partnerships with local authorities to help bring the matter to resolution.
Within the confines of the classroom, Village Elementary School Principal Brandi Mitchell says relationship-building between staff and students can often be a great deterrent when it comes to the escalation of a bullying or harassment scenario.
When it comes to resolving an issue of any severity, Mitchell and Matthews both say the best thing administrators can is “get the full story” from all parties involved. In addition to open communication, Giffin says district staff also receive a great deal of training annually for how to de-escalate tense situations involving staff and students.
Overall, Giffin says handling issues such as bullying, intimidation, hazing or other forms of harassment can be a balancing act for educators and administrators. He explains that often times the general public will see only the surface of the situation and rarely the “work behind the scenes” to find a fair and just resolution to the conflict.
If you would like to view the full safety report you can find it under the board docs tab on the district’s website at USD253.org.
