Maurer honored for bringing anti-bullying program to area schools
By Sharon Haught
January 5, 2011
319
Wayne County Sheriff Tom Maurer walked into the conference room of Tri County Educational Service Center (Tri-County ESC) on January 4.
Hed been there many times over the past eight years talking with educational leaders from the three counties served by Tri-County ESC about a problem that has plagued schools for decades – bullying.
But this meeting with the superintendents and administrators from school districts throughout Wayne, Holmes and Ashland counties was different.
Rather than sharing information with the leaders of the local educational community about what they could do to prevent bullying in the schools, much to his surprise Maurer was recognized for his efforts in bringing an innovative anti-bullying program to the tri county area.
On behalf of the districts served by the organization, Tri County Educational Service Center Superintendent Gene Linton presented Maurer with an award in sincere appreciation for his tireless efforts to bring the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program to children and youth in Ashland, Holmes and Wayne County Schools.
His tenacity is what made it possible, said Linton in presenting the award to Maurer.
The road to bringing the program to 16 school districts in Wayne, Holmes and Ashland counties began nearly eight years ago when Maurer enlisted the help of Cyndy Rees, the State Director for the organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. Rees and her organization were instrumental in helping Maurer research the top anti-bullying programs in the world and obtaining funding for the program locally.
Maurers path eventually lead him to Washington DC and appearances before key Congressional subcommittees alongside world renowned cyberbullying expert Parry Aftab, who at Maurers invitation held a community forum in Wooster on the topic of cyberbullying last November.
Through the efforts of Tri-County ESC grant writer Judy Kestner and help from now retired Congressman Ralph Regula, Tri-County ESC was able to obtain a $142,000 grant to implement a pilot program in one building in each of the 16 participating districts.
The program has been such a resounding success on a local level that Maurer, Rees and a delegation of local school officials including Linton, Kestner, Tri-County ESC Director of Operations and Programs Richard Thomas, Chippewa Local elementary school principal Ronna Haer and Southeast Local middle school principal Patricia Arnold were invited to Columbus in November to present a seminar on the implementation of the program during the Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference, an annual gathering of over 10,000 school board members, educators and administrators from around the state.
While Maurer is grateful for opportunity to bring awareness to the problem of bullying to the state and national level, its his work in the tri county area that gives him the most satisfaction.
Its been a pleasure, said Maurer after accepting the award from Linton.
The cooperation between the superintendents and the principals is just outstanding, said Maurer adding Im very happy to get his started and hope it continues.
