Team Lead is a Bystander Leadership program focused on empowering student leaders to combat bullying in their school. The students are taught how to actively and safely deal with bullying through a mentoring program.
Both Viking School and River Trail began the Team LEAD program in 2008. Since this time both programs have found ways to include the younger students. River Trail takes their leaders into the classrooms of their elementary students, Viking School leaders go to Prairie Trail school to work with students 3rd - 5th grade.
The philosophy of the program, which was developed by Denise Koebcke, a teacher from Valparaiso School District, is that teachers are rarely around when bullying occurs. Bullies usually harass other students only in the presence of other children. Therefore; it's imperative to empower our kids and teach them the correct and safe ways to deal with bullying. The program teaches students the different forms of relational aggression and bullying. It also teaches them that if they stand-by and watch the bullying occur, it will continue. Therefore; being a bystander is not a good option.
What Parents Need to Know
Kids who are bullied are more likely to
Have low self-esteem
Be depressed
Turn to violent behavior to protect themselves or revenge
Withdrawal
Lose friends
Decline in grades
Lose interest in activities he/she previously enjoyed
Have torn clothing
Have bruises
Need extra money or supplies
Leadership, Empathy, Accountability and Discussion (LEAD)
Viking Students leading a discussion with Prairie Trail students about Bullying.