Bullying has always been an issue in schools, but with the onset of social media, the problem has escalated in recent years.
In an attempt to better arm teachers and parents in the battle against bullying, Fulton Public Schools have invited Dr. Scott Poland, a nationally-known expert on school crisis/safety and prevention to the district.
On Jan. 18, Poland will be the guest speaker for the district's next professional development day, educating the staff on ways to identify and prevent bullying behavior. At 6 p.m. at the high school, Poland then will offer a similar presentation for area parents, "Parenting in a Challenging World."
According to promotional material, parents will learn how to identify at-risk behaviors in their children, how to recognize and reduce bully behaviors and how to best support their children if they are a target of bullying.
Guidance Counselor Debbie Harris said she and several other Fulton counselors first heard Poland at a recent conference at Lake of the Ozarks, where they were so impressed with what he had to share they returned and asked district administrators to invite him to Fulton, where she said he will speak to all district staff - everyone from cafeteria workers to principals.