B6.01 - Approve the Agreement for Technical Services #20094-ATS-IV with Brooks Gibbs Communications (Innovation)
Supporting All Learners and Uniting to Excel (SALUTE), is a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) grant, that includes a goal to improve learning environment by decreasing disruptive behavior. Brooks Gibbs addresses bullying by teaching students how to deal with the bullying behaviors. Brook's work focuses on two basic principles: Don't get upset (Emotional Resilience) and Treat them like a friend (Golden Rule). Most aggression consists of name-calling, social exclusion, rumors, etc. These behaviors are inevitable between siblings at home and peers at school. Despite the pettiness of these behaviors they can do tremendous emotional harm to a student. Brooks teaches students how to protect their emotions from the effect of these behaviors through emotional resilience. Social instruction teaches students how to make friends and also manage their perceived enemies. Brooks will present to the students and faculty as well as work with identified teacher leaders on creating curriculum catered to Tinker K-8. These tools will be useful to students as they transition from base to base during their parent's military career.
On July 8, 15, and 22 Brooks Gibbs will provide expertise and collaboration with Tinker K-8 staff to develop anti-bullying curriculum over two and a half days. On August 24, 2020, a speaker will address the students on school assembly day.
According to the Army Times, military children are at risk for bullying for two reasons: they move often and as a result, are the out-of-place new kid, and the stress of parental deployment can leave them vulnerable and open to attacks by bullies (Bullying Prevention, 2016). Approximately 84 percent of Tinker K-8 faculty surveyed in 2016 felt that bullying was often a barrier/obstacle for learning. In a concurrent survey administered to Tinker students in grades 3-8, close to 40 percent of the students cited bullying as a problem. The survey results demonstrated the need to include the reduction of this behavior as a goal of the grant.
Through the efforts of Project SALUTE and implementing strategies for teachers and students, Tinker K-8 has shown a decrease in the number of students reporting being bullied, teased, or hurt by others at school. The evaluator reported the baseline data for students experiencing being bullied, teased, or hurt by others at school at 31.7 percent in 2016 which decreased to 25.3 percent in June 2019.
We expect to meet SALUTE's goal of less than 20 percent of students reporting being bullied, teased, or hurt by others at school. The development of curriculum by teacher leaders provides buy-in and sustainability of the program.
* Improve the high school graduation rate
* Improve Student Achievement
* Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child
* Develop a culture of respect, trust, collaboration and equity
* Engage and communicate with families and stakeholders
* Continuously improve processes and systems
* Demonstrate "best practices" in all aspects of safety: student, employee, visitor, facility, transportation, and health
Approval of the Agreement for Technical Services with Brooks Gibbs Communications.
Mathew Romano, Director, Student Planning and Placement, mathew.romano@sdhc.k12.fl.us, (813) 272-4882
Van Ayres, Chief of Innovation, van.ayres@hcps.net, (813) 272-4895
Funds not to exceed $14,974.00 will be available from the DoDEA SALUTE Grant Project 3118.