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

1. 2011 TASA Midwinter Conference
2011 TASA Midwinter Conference
Bullying: How We Are A1emp4ng
to Make a Difference
February 1, 2011
Dr. Rick Kempe, Director of Student Services
Donna Layer , Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling Services
Mark Thomas, Communica4ons Officer
Birdville Independent School District
Haltom City, Texas

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

3. Community of Respect Everywhere
Where have we been?
The campus and central office administra4on realized
that parents had made some valid statements about a
need for a full review of all policies and procedures
rela4ng 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 par4cipate in a task force addressing current
issues regarding bullying brought to our a1en4on. Our goal
was to define, iden4fy behaviors, discuss posi4ve 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 wri1en 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 ac4on or threat creates an
in4mida4ng, threatening, or abusive educa4onal environment for the
student (Texas Educa4on 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 figh4ng of siblings or peers with compe4ng 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 o^en related to a physical or mental handicap, such as au4sm or
Asperger’s syndrome (high func4oning au4sm), 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 a1ack by a bully, but it is not bullying.
Bullying does not include criminal ac4vi4es 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 communica4ons, including: e‐mail, Facebook,
Twi1er, text messaging, etc.

8. Community of Respect Everywhere
Staff: Are you a bully?
In addi4on to the state’s defini4on of bullying, staff also
bully when they consistently use degrading nega4ve
comments openly about a student or students. Whether
this is one student or a whole class, it is s4ll bullying.

9. Community of Respect Everywhere
Community of Respect Everywhere, C.O.R.E., is an ongoing ini4a4ve
throughout Birdville ISD backed by the philosophy that promotes
posi4ve and safe learning climates while developing
responsibility, accountability and respect. Each of us teaches
character educa4on by the way we talk, the behaviors we model,
the conduct we tolerate, the deeds we encourage, and the
expecta4ons 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 cri4cal 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
• Ins4gated Independent Inves4ga4on of Current District Policy
• Contacted and consulted with Barbara Coloroso, interna4onally renowned expert
• Developed protocol and procedures for repor4ng incidents on campus.
• Arranged presenta4on by speaker Jus4n Lookadoo for counselors, task force members,
principals and Leadership on communica4on, respect and climate change
• Expand Crime Stoppers on every campus
• Reinstate character educa4on/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
• Fi^h six weeks – Acceptance
• Sixth six weeks – Courage

13. Community of Respect Everywhere
h1p://www.birdvilleschools.net /safetyzone/

14. Community of Respect Everywhere
Ac4vi4es Happening on the Campuses
• Campus task forces established to facilitate/oversee ini4a4ves‐including
students from all ranges
• Incorporated messages with C.O.R.E. values over announcements, in
newsle1ers, on websites using video clips, public service announcements,
mo4va4on quotes, etc.
• Adop4ng a community service project in which all staff and students can
par4cipate
• Display cases showing C.O.R.E. values
• Theatre Arts departments wri4ng and performing skits
• Athle4c teams visi4ng elementary schools as mentors and community
hospitals to visit and assist pa4ents modeling C.O.R.E. values

15. Community of Respect Everywhere
Ac4vi4es Happening on the Campuses
• Coaches incorpora4ng values/character lessons into prac4ce
sessions
• Classroom teachers incorpora4ng C.O.R.E. values in
discussions, wri4ng assignments, projects, etc.
• Music departments wri4ng jingles to support C.O.R.E. values
• Random Acts of Kindness recogni4ons
• Art department designs signs and posters depic4ng C.O.R.E.
values

16. Community of Respect Everywhere
Ac4vi4es Happening on the Campuses
• Guest speakers presen4ng ci4zenship/character values to
students/staff/parents
• Anonymous “Pay it Forward” cer4ficates are distributed
throughout the district to keep the message of C.O.R.E.
circula4ng
• “Safety Zones” established on campuses
• Promo4on of Crime Stoppers program
• U4lize district protocol for repor4ng incidents on campus

17. Community of Respect Everywhere
Student‐on‐Student Alterca4on Response Chart

18. Community of Respect Everywhere
Resources available to vic4ms and offenders
• www.birdvilleschools.net
• BISD Evening Counseling Services
• BISD Evening Family Group Educa4on Program
• Safe Haven‐a nonprofit organiza4on that exists to end violence
through safety, support, preven4on and social change
• Paren4ng Center‐providing the tools to succeed through family life
educa4on classes, counseling, in home case management, and co‐
paren4ng 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 EdiBon) (Updated ed.). New York: Collins Living.
• Eklind, D. H., & Sweet, F. (n.d.). How to Do Character Educa4on. Character EducaBon ‐ Free Resources, Materials, Lesson Plans. Retrieved
October 21, 2010, from h1p://www.goodcharacter.com/Ar4cle_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
• Jus4n Lookadoo, na4onal 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 Preven4on Services, SafeHaven of Tarrant County
www.safehaventc.org Phone 817.546.6040 x 239, Mailing address: 6815 Manha1an 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 presenta4on/handouts are available online
at
h1p://www.slideshare.net/event/2011‐tasa‐midwinter‐
presenta4on