INDIANAPOLIS — Speakers for the upcoming ‘End Bullying Now!’ bully prevention forum include a psychologist, legislator, and school safety expert. The forum will be held on Aug. 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Butler University campus in the Atherton Union Reilly Room. “End Bullying Now!” is aimed at providing parents, educators, coaches, law enforcement officers and youth service providers with strategies to recognize and prevent bullying among youth. Speakers include:
State Rep. Greg Porter has served in the Indiana House of Representatives since 1992. He is the ranking Democrat on the House Ways & Means Committee and the past chairman of the House Education Committee. A strong advocate for P-20 education, Rep. Porter was the primary author of the state’s new anti-bullying law (HEA 1423).
Dr. Dennis Kinder is a psychologist for the Children’s Resource Group. Dr. Kinder specializes in psychological and psychoeducational evaluation of children and adolescents with complex developmental, emotional, behavioral, and learning difficulties. He will discuss the emotional impact of bullying on children, which includes exploring if bullying affects neurological structure and function.
Dr. Brandie Oliver is the Assistant Professor of School Counseling at Butler University. Dr. Oliver will be presenting “Power of Many: Empowerment of students, schools and parents.” Discussions will include topics such as advocacy, bullying at school and home, the importance of empathy and strategies to build your student’s life toolbox.
David Woodward is Director for the Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy, a program within the Indiana Department of Education. He has more than 17 years of experience working with schools, many of those addressing school safety plans and the supervision of high risk students. Additionally, he has coordinated hundreds of hours of school safety training in collaboration with numerous state and federal education and law enforcement agencies, and is a member of the Incident Management Team for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
The forum is free and all adults are welcome, but registration is required. All attendees will receive a two hour training certificate for completion of the training. Seating is limited, so please contact Annie Kern at (317) 327-3642 or Annie.Kern@indy.gov to reserve a space. More information is available at www.indy.gov/MCPO.