Introduction To Brevard Public Schools Bully Policy 5517.01

What Teachers Need
to Know About
Bullying/Harassment
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Introduction To
Brevard Public Schools
Bully Policy 5517.01
Offices of Student Services, Risk Management,
District & School Security, and Human
Resources/Labor Relations 2009-2010
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Brevard’s Bully Policy
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The Board is committed to a safe,
secure, positive, productive and
nurturing educational environment
that is free from bullying or
harassment of any kind for all of its
students, employees, volunteers,
parents and/or school visitors.

Florida State Statute 1006.147
Information on the Jeffrey Johnston
“Stand Up for all Students Act”
Policy Requirements to uphold the law:
• Prohibit bullying or harassment by any
student, school employee, volunteer, parent
and/or school visitor;
• Standard definition of bullying/harassment.
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Further requirements must include:
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• A reporting system, including anonymous
reporting;
• Investigation procedures and time frames;
• Interventions for both the victim and bully;
• Data Collection / Reporting;
• A method to provide instruction / training for
all students, school employee, volunteers,
parent and/or school visitor.

Definition of Bullying
Bullying means systematically and
chronically inflicting physical hurt or
psychological distress on one or more
students or employees. It is further
defined as unwanted and repeated
written, verbal, or physical behavior,
including any threatening, insulting,…
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…or dehumanizing gesture, by an adult or
a student, that is severe or pervasive
enough to create an intimidating, hostile,
or offensive educational environment; to
cause discomfort or humiliation; or
unreasonably interfere with the
individual’s school performance or
participation.

“It may involve, but is not limited to:”
• (Unwanted) teasing
• Social exclusion
• Threat
• Intimidation
• Stalking
• Physical violence
• Theft
• Public humiliation
• Sexual, religious, or
racial/ethnic harassment
• Damaging or destruction
of property
• Placing a student in
reasonable fear of harm
to his/her person or
property
• Cyber-bullying
• Cyber-stalking
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Characteristics of Bullying
RIP
Repeated
Imbalance of Power
Purposeful
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Direct Bullying can be…
• Physical violence-hitting, kicking, shoving, spitting;
• Taunting, teasing, racial slurs;
• Sexual, religious, or verbal harassment;
• Threatening;
• Obscene gestures;
• Theft;
• Destruction of property;
• Stalking.
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Indirect Bullying can be…
• Getting another person
to bully someone for
you
• Intimidation
• Spreading rumors,
public humiliation
• Deliberately excluding
someone from a group
or activity
• Relational aggression
(gossip, lies, betrayal,
isolation)
• Cyber-bullying
• Cyber-stalking
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What is Harassment?
Any threatening, insulting, or
dehumanizing gesture, use of
data or computer software, or
written, verbal, or physical
conduct directed against a
student or school employee
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that:

• Places a student or school employee in
reasonable fear of harm to her or her
person or damage to his or her
property;
• Has the effect of substantially interfering
with a student’s educational
performance, opportunities, or benefits;
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• Has the effect of substantially disrupting
the orderly operation of a school.

Cyber-bullying & Cyber-stalking
“Use of electronic communication or
technological devices to include…”
• Email messages
• Instant messaging
• Text messaging
• Cellular phone
communication
• Internet blogs
• Social websites
• Internet chat rooms
• Internet postings
• Digital pictures /
images
• Defamatory websites
to engage in acts of
bullying and
harassment
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New addition regarding
Cyber-bullying:
“The physical location or time of
access of a computer-related
incident cannot be raised as a
defense in any disciplinary
action initiated under this
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section.”

What does this Mean?
This means no matter where or when a
computer was used to bully/harass a
student or school adult, if reported,
disciplinary sanctions must be taken by
a school administrator.
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Characteristics of Bullying
RIP
Repeated
Imbalance of Power
Purposeful
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Expected Behaviors from All
• No tolerance for bullying/harassment;
• Create a positive school climate, positive
reinforcement for good conduct, selfdiscipline,
good citizenship, and academic
success;
• All will demonstrate appropriate behavior and
treat others with civility and respect.
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How Students Report
• Verbal: In-person reporting;
• Written: BPS Bullying/Harassment Reporting form -
Elementary or Secondary/Adult;
• Anonymous: Bully Box, Speak Out Hotline
(1.800.226.7733), School-based website if
applicable.
If an oral report is made it should be documented
on the Bullying/ Harassment Form.
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How All Others Report
• Verbal: In-person reporting (utilize Bullying Report
Form);
• Written: BPS Bullying/Harassment Report From –
Elementary or Secondary/Adult;
• Anonymous: Speak Out Hotline (1.800.226.7733),
Ethics Hotline (located on BPS Home webpage),
School-based website if applicable.
If an oral report is made it should be documented on
the Bullying/ Harassment Form.
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About Anonymous Reporting…
Formal disciplinary action
may not be based solely on
the basis of an anonymous
report.
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Incident Reporting and Immunity
• GOOD FAITH – Anyone making a report in good
faith is immune from cause of action/damages. It will
NOT affect employment, grades, learning/working
environment or assignments.
• WRONGFUL & INTENTIONAL – Consequences
and appropriate remedial action will apply.
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What a School Community Should
Do:
• Preventing and responding to
bullying/harassment is the responsibility of
administrators, teachers, school staff
members, students, and parents.
• Help create a climate where bullying is NOT
TOLERATED!
• Model caring, kindness, respect, and
responsibility.
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How Teachers Can Prevent Bullying
• Model behavior that is inclusive and
promotes respect for all;
• Provide opportunities to talk about bullying
and define bullying as an unacceptable
behavior-class meetings where students only
compliment each other or express
appreciation to a classmate works well;
• Post and publicize rules against bullying;
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More Ways…
• Model and apply rules, policies, and
sanctions fairly and consistently to your
students;
• Take immediate action when bullying is
observed and respond to all reports of
bullying;
• Provide protection for students who are
bullied;
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And more ways…
• Incorporate classroom activities that
spotlight individual talents, interests, and
abilities;
• Implement a District approved curriculum to
help students learn better coping and social
skills:
– Second Step Violence Prevention Program (K-6)
– Life Skills (6-8)
– Bully Box (K-8)
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Monitor school “hot spots”…
• The playground
• The cafeteria
• The hallways
• Restrooms
• The car loop
• The bus loop
• The back of the
classroom
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Tell Students if they are a target of
bullying it is okay to:
• Tell the bully to STOP!
• Walk away
• If the bullying behavior is
repeated, REPORT THE BULLY!
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What Teachers Need to Know:
• Do NOT expect victims to solve the problem!
• Do NOT expect that bullies will grow out of
the bullying behavior.
• Adults MUST educate themselves, their
children, and work together.
• Be proactive in preventing bullying rather
than being reactive.
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Teach Students,
Bystanders Should:
• Tell the person to STOP!
• Express disapproval by NOT
JOINING IN!
• If the bullying behavior towards
the individual is repeated,
REPORT THE BULLY!
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Actions taken for students who
violate the policy…
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• Counseling;
• Social Skills Training;
• Referral to Certified Behavior
Analyst (CBA);
• Suspension;
• Expulsion;
• Reported to law enforcement.

Consequences for School Employees
who violate the policy…
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• Brevard Public School Employees Ethics
Policy Report;
• Referral to EAP;
• Disciplinary letter in file;
• Report to Professional Practice
Commission;
• Up to recommendation of termination.

Consequences for Parents,
Visitors/Volunteers who violate
this policy…
• Determined by the School
Administrator;
• Trespassed;
• If applicable, report to appropriate
law enforcement agency.
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Again! Expected Behavior…
• No tolerance for bullying/harassment;
• Create a positive school climate-positive
reinforcement for good conduct, selfdiscipline,
good citizenship, and academic
success;
• All will demonstrate appropriate behavior
and treat others with civility and respect.
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REMEMBER!
Your requirements to uphold the
law…
• Prohibit bullying or harassment by any
student, school employee, volunteer, parent
and/or school visitor;
• Report bullying/harassment should it be
happening to you or you witness it
happening to someone else.
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