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Grant Wood Area Education Agency

Bullying & Harassment Prevention and Intervention Services

All children have the right to feel safe at school. Every student should feel that there are adults at school that they can turn to in a time of need. More than any other place in the community, schools should provide a safe haven for all students.

Bullying among children is defined as repeated, intentional behavior that involves an imbalance of power or strength. A child who is being bullied has a hard time defending him/herself. Bullying can take many forms:

  • Physical aggression
  • Social alienation
  • Verbal aggression
  • Intimidation
  • Racial and ethnic harassment
  • Sexual harassment
  • Cyber-bullying/harassment

Bullying can have serious consequences. Children and youth who are bullied are more likely than other children to:

  • Be depressed, lonely, anxious or fearful
  • Have low self-esteem
  • Be absent from school or experience difficulties with school work completion
  • Feel sick
  • Contemplate, attempt or commit suicide

Grant Wood Area Education Agency has staff available to train school district or building committees on all aspects of bullying prevention, including:

  • Conducting and analyzing the results of surveys regarding the extent of bullying in a district & or building to help to determine the full extent of bullying issues
  • Establishing specific school rules
  • Examining policies and procedures
  • Conducting classroom meetings
  • Engaging parents and communities in joining schools in prevention activities

A school district, after considering its data, may request training in the internationally recognized and research based Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, or a program based on Olweus principles.

A certified Olweus trainer is available to provide training to school districts in Area 10. Recent feedback from school districts which have implemented school-wide bully prevention programs has been very positive. Implementing a comprehensive program is effective in improving the learning environment for students.

Anne Taylor
School Improvement Consultant

(319) 399-6895