It's not easy to be a pioneer, the first, but that's just what the Sioux City Community Schools District did. In 2009, it became the first district in the U.S. to comprehensively tackle workplace bullying on behalf of its adult employees.
The Sioux City Experience
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.
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
Local TV Coverage
Participants Reflections on future Sucesses
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