Professional Development
The District requires annual bullying prevention and intervention training for all school staff, including lunch monitors, bus drivers, teachers, administrators and all other itinerant staff as well as on-going professional development. The professional development requires that each school have at least 2 staff trained as Bullying Intervention Specialists. The training includes (i) developmentally appropriate strategies to prevent bullying incidents; (ii) developmentally appropriate strategies for immediate, effective interventions to stop bullying incidents; (iii) information regarding the complex interaction and power differential that can take place between and among a perpetrator, victim and witnesses to the bullying; (iv) research findings on bullying, including information about specific categories of students who have been shown to be particularly at risk for bullying in the school environment; (v) information on the incidence and nature of cyber-bullying; and (vi) internet safety issues as they relate to cyber-bullying.
All Staff Trainings (2 hours)
This training equips school personnel with a deeper understanding of how to prevent and address bullying behaviors. It meets the requirements of the state’s Bullying Prevention and Intervention Law. These all staff trainings have been conducted in almost every school throughout the district.
New-Hire Teacher Bullying Prevention Training (2 hours)
This training provides all new-hire teachers during their orientation with critical information about bullying prevention strategies and best practices, and highlights the basic elements of the Massachusetts Bullying Prevention and Intervention Law.
Bullying Prevention and Intervention Specialists Training (12 hours)
This training will explore how to recognize and address bullying, delving into biased-based conduct, sexual misconduct, and the bullying reporting and investigation process. BPS mandates that all schools identify two staff members as Bullying Intervention Specialists (BIS). Priority will be given to school-based staff who will serve as the BIS. Please contact your RP/SAWS Specialist with any questions.
Bullying Prevention Workshop for Parents of Students with Disabilities
This workshop (sponsored by the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee) provides parents with effective strategies they can use with students with disabilities to prevent, respond to, and stop bullying.
