"This was an amazing workshop.  It reaffirmed my commitment to creating a safe environment where my students can learn and grow as caring human beings first and as academic students second.  Without the first, the second cannot truly be achieved."

"I became more and more aware of my own behavior in the classroom and how I may have inadvertently added to putdowns or negative behavior with my students.  I shall continue to be aware!"

"I learned that it is important to teach classes in a way that requires more interaction among the students and to create lesson plans that help students to get to know one another.  This will help the students to connect to each other."

"This program helped me to realize that I am doing far more right in my classroom than I ever thought.  I treat kids with respect and expect the same in return.  I think kids feel comfortable with me and can talk to me.  So now I know I’m on the right track!"

"I plan to place this sign in the classroom: “Treat others the way you would like to be treated.”

"One of the most significant ideas from today’s program was the new awareness that kids need to connect with someone and that someone is usually a teacher.  As such, I must make myself more available to my students so they can make this connection."

"For me, this workshop brought into focus the many ways in which a student can be hurt by bullying, the variety of ways in which bullying exists, and the strategies that can be applied to prevent bullying."

"This session has caused me to rethink a lot of my ideas about the classroom environment -- things such as seating arrangements, addressing disrespectful student behavior and modeling appropriate respectful behavior.  I plan to discuss the issue of respect with all of my classes, and I also plan to be vigilant about identifying and addressing incidences of disrespect as they occur."

"In addition to becoming a model of good character, I plan to help students learn how to stand up for themselves and also to stand up for others."

"I now have renewed resolve:  My professional responsibility is to provide a safe, secure, nurturing environment for each child in order to maximize his or her potential.  I will model correct behavior and identify and intervene when I see inappropriate behavior."