Shepherd University and the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education will host a workshop “Bullying Prevention: Making Our Schools a Safe Place to Learn” for middle and secondary educators, administrators, social workers, parents and the community on Saturday, May 19.

The workshop will feature nationally known expert Dr. Dorothy Espelage, a professor of child development in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For the past 18 years, she has conducted research on bullying, homophobic teasing, sexual harassment and dating violence. She presents regularly at regional, national and international conferences and is the author of more than 90 professional publications and has coauthored four published books. Her research has been featured on the Discovery Channel, Good Morning America, PBS specials and the Oprah Winfrey Show.

“This workshop offered by Shepherd’s Division of Graduate Studies will assist teachers in understanding and preventing bullying in our schools,” said Shepherd University President Suzanne Shipley. “Dr. Espelage’s expertise should help teachers in the area learn helpful techniques to reduce incidences of bullying.”

Panel presentations and open forum discussion topics include Identifying and Preventing Bullying Behavior and Strategies for Resolution with facilitator Veronique Walker; The Social Aspects of Inclusion in the Classroom with facilitator Dr. Belinda Mitchell; and Cyberbullying: Why Kids Can’t Ignore Its Devastating Effects with facilitator Dr. Scott Beard.

Attendees will learn from various presenters how to identify bullying behavior and its causes and their impact on children, families, schools and organizations.

They will also explore how cyberbullying operates differently from the traditional bullying dynamic. The workshop will focus on how bullying is directed at GLBT and special-needs children and will present strategies to stop bullying and create a more welcoming school environment for all learners.

Preregistration is necessary and space is limited. Cost is $114 for teachers (to receive three credit graduate-level EDPD credits), $228 for inclusive (six credit-level EDPD credits), and $40 for others. To register, visit www.shepherd.edu/graduate-studies/bullying.

For more information, contact Dr. Scott Beard, dean of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at 304-876-5313 or sbeard@shepherd.edu.