Middletown Student Presents at Capital Today



MHS Jr. Antanisha Outlaw (1st row, last on the right) at today's bullying conference.


This afternoon the Governor's Prevention Partnership hosted "Bullying in the Classroom...and the Chatroom" in the state legislative building. The presention featured keynote speaker Kevin Jennings from the US Dept of Education, and also included a panel of young people affected by bullying, state policy leaders, and local stakeholders, who have experienced success in tackling the problem. Of interest, was that one of our own, was a member of this esteemed panel.

Antanisha Outlaw, a junior at Middletown High School, was asked to speak on behalf of her role as an ally or an active bystander in a bullying situation here in Middletown. She was one of two students on the panel who spoke from that perspective. Ms. Outlaw noted finding a friend in tears and immediately getting them help from the administration while also confronting the aggressors directly, questioning why they would want to cause such harm to another student. The crowd included over 600 people scattered through out the building and I can't tell you how proud I was to accompany her there today. She made our entire community proud!

Assistant Deputy Director Jennings who also serves as the Director for the Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools (the deptarment in charge of school climate and bullying) offered a fantastic presentation on the issue of bullying which can be found HERE. There was a lot to digest and I look forward to sharing more info with you all soon.