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Anti-Bullying Month Focus: Culture Coaches
October 15, 2018 - In HSD, we recognize that students must feel safe and have positive peer relationships both inside and outside the classroom walls, and we believe our students can be great role models and educators when it comes to bullying prevention strategies.
In 2017, a high school leadership training program was developed by District Recess Coach Jeremy Carter called Culture Coaches. To become a Culture Coach, high school students must complete an application and go through an interview process. After careful screening, students go through training to learn specific strategies for organizing and facilitating games, modeling positive behavior, building self-esteem, teaching responsibility, and empowering students in the elementary recess setting.
Upon completion of training, the Culture Coaches are paired with a local elementary school that they visit every other day during a time that is built into their class schedule. At the elementary schools, they help to create and promote safe and inclusive playgrounds by being “recess rockstars” - initiating and playing games with 20+ students. These large group games foster teamwork, kindness, and respect among classmates.
The Culture Coaches demonstrate and model the behaviors they want to see, and provide reinforcement to students who exhibit these positive behaviors by using fist bumps, high-fives, and uplifting language. Their modeling of these skills helps contribute to a safe and welcoming culture and community within the school. The overall outcomes are positive interactions with older teen role models for our elementary students, and a leadership and skill-building opportunity for high school students that they can use to enhance their daily peer relationships.