We Are The Solution

Helen Cottongim is the student transportation safety coordinator for Boone County Schools in Northern Kentucky, and is also the recipient of the 2010 NEA ESP award. Her job duties include creating safety programs for students as well as overseeing the safe transport of 17,000 students on a daily basis. 

 Cottongim thinks that, although bullying has always been around, it has gotten more vicious since she was a kid. She believes it is important for adults to recognize bullying.

“Once you learn to read students,” said Cottongim, “you can separate bullies from the bullied to keep the classroom or school bus a non-abusive atmosphere.”

Cottongim now helps new bus drivers how to handle bullying. She tells them, “pay attention to children’s body language and attitude.” She also believes that if you see someone being a bully, you should step up even if you’re not part of it. Once you see it, you’re in it!

Read more about Helen Cottongim here.

Listen below to Helen Cottongim talk with Edward Town Middle School students Mark, Steven, and Julia.

Kaitlin Monte, Miss New York 2011, and 2nd runner up in this year’s Miss America pageant, is truly an inspirational woman. She is using her crown to solve problems and improve students’ futures.
 
Miss Monte started a program called Project Empower that prepares students for life outside of school. It gives students a chance to know what life will be like when they get older.

Monte also started this program because of her past experiences with bullying.

 “I was bullied for being part of theater,” said Monte. She also has two siblings with disabilities who were bullied.

Kaitlin Monte is an intelligent woman who has accomplished many great things in her life.  Her work is making a change in young people’s lives.

Listen below to Kaitlin Monte talk with Edward Town Middle School students Bria, Janine, and Alana!

http://kaitlinmonte.com

There are many speakers around the United States, but Jerry Ackerman presents anti-bullying in a whole new manner. Ackerman is an anti-bullying speaker who travels around the globe, expressing his feelings about bullying amongst schools in a different way. He gets students, teachers, principles, and staff to get up and do “the mower,” an energetic up beat dance that has a deeper meaning to it than just the dance.

“If you can do something like this in this room and be crazy,” explains Ackerman, “maybe you are someone who can stand up and lead.”

Ackerman does not promote just going with the flow of things. He believes that “if you aren’t part of the solution you are part of the problem.”

Listen below to Jerry Ackerman share his positive message with Edward Town Middle School students Matt, Austin , and Matt. 

http://jerryackerman.net 
http://ridethemower.com/