Rockdale County Schools 2014 Peer Mediation Graduation

What is Mediation? Mediation includes a neutral third party, a trained peer mediator, and students who are willing to solve their own conflict(s). The key to mediation is that students must be willing to participate in the process!

In the words of the students…

Derrick Williamson Conflict cannot survive without your participation. Wayne Dyer

Tashiana Fisher  Story of the Starfish 

The goals of the RCPS Peer Mediation Program  Reducing the amount of time adults spend on disciplinary issues;  Decreasing in-school and out-of-school suspensions for students;  Improving attitudes and behaviors regarding conflict;  Improving school climate;  Advancing academic achievement by increasing attendance;  Reducing dropout rates.

Types of Disputes Suitable for Peer Mediation  Gossip and rumors  Name calling  Property disputes  Relationship problems  Disputes on Face book, Twitter, Instagram, and Ask FM  Misunderstandings  Aftercare when students return from suspension

Types of disputes that are not suitable for peer mediation  Physical Fights  Bullying  Sexual Assault  Illegal activities  Violence due to weapons

Training  Peer mediators go through 20 hours of intensive training during the fall semester to participate in the program.  Each mediator must practice his/her skills for 5 additional hours!

Peer Mediation Coordinators  Uphold the peer mediation standards  Foster administrative, faculty, and student support  Demonstrate sensitivity to bias awareness, cultural diversity, and prejudice reduction.  Maintain policies, procedures, and forms  Maintain records  Handle intake and case management  Evaluate student mediators through self-assessment, observation, and feedback from disputants.

Peer Mediation Coordinators Heritage High School Rockdale Career Academy Rockdale County High School Salem High School Noemi Seymour Kierstin Montano Karen Hardy Cynthia Morton

Heritage High School Peer Mediators

Rockdale County High School

Salem High School

PEER MEDIATOR PLEDGE  I pledge to make each mediation a voluntary process and not to interfere with party self-determination for any reason.  I pledge to refrain from favoritism, bias, or prejudice. If I cannot be fair, I will withdraw from the mediation.  I pledge to avoid conflicts of interests in a mediation.  I pledge to practice my skills and not conduct a mediation beyond my skill level.  I pledge to keep all information gathered in a mediation confidential unless it falls in one of the three categories: harm to self, harm to others, harm by others.

2013 Statistics  In 2013, over 50 students from all high schools in Rockdale County were trained in peer mediation at Rockdale Career Academy.  Fall 2013, over 15 peer mediations were conducted with a 97% success rate.  Personally, as a result of the training, peer mediators felt they were able to communicate better with others and handle their own conflicts.

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Future…  Conflict Coaching  Peer Restorative Processes  Peer Mediation Competition  Peer Mediation Scholarships  Youth Day, Cincinnati, Ohio

Quote  “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” - Fred Rogers

Goal of Rockdale County Schools Peer Mediation Program