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Posted by JoAnn_Freiberg on Tuesday, September 2 2003
August 29, 2003
By LEE FOSTER, Courant Staff Writer
VERNON, CT - As a school psychologist, Lois Possell not only gets to help children do their best, she gets to help another group she cares about - teachers.
Possell's mother, brothers and sister all are teachers, as are her two sisters-in-law, so she appreciates their hard work and the influence they have on children.
"I come from a whole family of teachers, so I enjoy supporting them," Possell said Thursday.
Possell, who works at Skinner Road School, is the town's Teacher of the Year. Along with a reserved parking space close to the front door of the school, Possell will receive gift certificates donated by Crystal Blueprints and Staples office supply, said Marie DeAngelis, who heads the teacher of the year committee.
Possell said she loves the variety of her work - observing classes, working with small groups of children, counseling individual students and evaluating children with behavior and learning problems.
"There is no `typical' day," she said, laughing.
In 2001, when school shootings across the country led educators to try to stop bullying behavior in schools, the Skinner school staff adopted a program called "Don't Laugh At Me," developed by the national nonprofit group Operation Respect.
Possell, 37, designed classroom activities to illustrate four major principles of the program: expressing feelings; caring, compassion and cooperation; resolving conflicts creatively; and celebrating diversity.
The K-Grade 5 curriculum was so good that the Connecticut chapter of Operation Respect had it printed for other school systems. Possell also brought in grants to support the anti-bullying program. An $18,000 grant last year was used in part to build a Low Ropes Challenge course in the rear of the schoolyard. The course is used to encourage teamwork and problem-solving through group exercises.
"The kids find it a lot of fun, but they have to help each other through it," she said. "We don't have to fight to get them out there."
This year, $11,000 will be used in part for a new mentoring program that pairs adult staff members with students on a one-to-one basis, Possell said. The mentor will be someone who can give individual attention to the child, she said.
An after-school program for students having trouble in class has been extended to run all year. During the program, students can get homework help and do group games on the low-ropes course.
Possell graduated from Clark University with a degree in psychology, but she had no idea what to do with it. Her mother, a teacher in Ashford, recommended she talk to her school's psychologist and Possell knew she had found her career. After attending the University of Connecticut for teacher training, she got the job at Skinner Road. This is her 13th year in the job.
"She's a fervent advocate of what's best for kids," Superintendent Steve Cullinan said Thursday. "She's passionate about what she does."
DeAngelis commended Possell for recognizing the potential for the "Don't Laught At Me" program.
"She embraced it," DeAngelis said. "She saw it could enrich the school."
The two sets of the "Courage to Care" curricula, are both available through Operation Respect CT for $25 each. Please contact us via e-mail
( info@OperationRespectCT.org ) or via phone ( 860.721.7770 ) for more information.
OPERATION RESPECT RECEIVES UNITED TECHNOLOGIES GRANT
Posted by Donna_Collins on Wednesday, June 25 2003
Anti-bullying program in Hartford Receives Boost
HARTFORD, Conn., May 5, 2003 – Operations Respect, a non-profit organization, which has brought its anti-bullying message to more than 60 percent of the elementary and middle schools in the state, received a $25, 000 grant from United Technologies Corporation.
The funds will be used for its nationally acclaimed “Don’t Laugh at Me” program, which uses music, video and a well-tested curriculum to help create a climate of respect.
Training will be offered to early childhood service providers in Greater Hartford and will focus on the prevention of bullying behavior.
“Our vision is to create communities of respect across Connecticut and to provide safe environments for all of our children to learn and grow” said Jo Ann Freiberg, Executive Director of Operation Respect CT. “This generous gift from United Technologies Corp. will go a long way in helping us achieve that vision.”
Operation Respect CT has brought its anti-bullying message to more than 10,000 educators, students, parents and school personnel in more than 700 schools in the state over the past three years.
“The cycle of violence begins in the early stages of child development and has a significant chance of being prevented with early intervention,” stated Freiberg. “Since parents and early childhood service providers are children's first educators, their inclusion in our anti-bullying program is critical.”
Operation Respect CT is based in Wethersfield and was founded in 2001 to create safe and respectful environments for youths and the adults who work with them. The founding partners are CT State Department of Education, Neag School of Education at UCONN and People’s Bank. Its goal is to build healthy relationships and reduce youth violence. The
United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. Over the past 10 years, UTC has contributed nearly $150 million to educational, community and cultural programs.
Donna Collins
President, Operation Respect CT
(860)721-7770
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For additional information regarding Operation Respect CT and the "Don’t Laugh at Me" initiative click here or to here to contact us.