 Dana QuesinberryGenny Jenkins Rowan County UNITE CoalitionRowan County Schools Rowan County, KY

 Dana Quesinberry is the Executive Director for Rowan UNITE, a community anti-drug coalition.  10 years of prevention experience  Also the mother of two teenagers, age 19 and 16  Genny Jenkins is the gifted specialist for the Rowan County school system.  16 years of teaching experience  Also the mother of three boys, ages 15, 12, and 10.

 The Common Core Standards are the blueprint by which teachers plan their classroom instruction.  Included in the middle school standards are three types of writing (narrative, explanatory, and argumentative).  “Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence”  In elementary school, argumentative is called “opinion” and in high school it’s called “argumentative with analysis.”

 Writing in schools – Program Review  WRITING: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES, Demonstrator 2d) Teachers regularly collaborate with community, business and postsecondary partners through advisory committees, work exchange programs and community groups with a focus on writing.  WRITING: CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, Demonstrator 2b) Curriculum integrates the strands of literacy (reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language use) across content areas to explicitly instruct and develop communication skills.  WRITING: CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, Demonstrator 2e) Curriculum provides opportunities for students to practice 21st century critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, problem- solving and communication skills and to connect these to real world experiences.

 8 th grade classroom  20 students  High achievers/leaders

 Guest Speaker  Presented as a neutral topic for consideration  Background information provided (very little online research)  Audience was legislators

 Students used a graphic organizer to begin work.  They chose a stance and then argued their position.  Out of the 20 students, several of them wrote in favor of legalization.  Three of them wrote in favor of legalizing hemp as a crop.

 What you need? o Interested teacher/administrator o Identified substance abuse prevention need o Creativity in integrating into subject matter  Other areas for integration of prevention in academic settings Health/physical educationCommunications/speech Family and Consumer SciencesBusinesses classes Science classSocial Studies Math & StatisticsEven art and music

 Barriers to implementation of prevention strategies in schools o Level of expertise o Academic/instructional time vs. prevention programming o Disinterest by administration o Parental kick-back – “Don’t teach them about drugs” attitude o Others?  Strategies for resolution o Through the barrier – Be persistent! o Around the barrier – Be prepared, be factual, be persuasive! o Over the barrier – WIFM?

 Genny Jenkins website: Rowan County Schools, click on Rowan County Middle School, Click on Teacher WebsitesRowan County Schools  Common Core Website Common Core  Kentucky Program Review website Kentucky Program Review   