Center for Supportive Schools (CSS)

Mike was a ninth grader who transferred to a new school because he was the victim of bullying at his previous school. As we all would be, Mike was eager to make a fresh start.

Unfortunately, the bully from his old school persisted. In fact, shortly after Mike left his old school, the bully through Facebook invited all students at Mike’s old and new schools to watch him assault Mike at a local park.

What the bully didn’t know is that Mike’s new school was implementing Peer Group Connection (PGC), the Center for Supportive Schools’ (CSS) peer leadership solution that supports and eases students’ transitions into high school.

When PGC peer leaders (11^th and 12^th graders) and their faculty advisors at Mike’s school learned of the cyber bullying, they developed a plan to diffuse the situation. They scheduled a softball game for older students for the same time as the planned fight at the park. Word spread quickly to ninth graders at both schools, and when the time of the fight arrived, the only students in the park were older ones playing a friendly game of softball.

In a testimony to the power of student leaders to make a difference, the bully, the ninth graders from both schools, and Mike had all stayed away from the park upon hearing that older students would be there. In addition, peer leaders checked in regularly with Mike and addressed the issue of bullying in workshops they held for the entire ninth grade.

The bullying eventually ended and Mike found his fresh start.

Thousands of students across the country are, like Mike was, disconnected and disengaged from school due to bullying, social isolation, and other significant challenges. CSS addresses the issue of student disengagement by helping faculty and administrators develop students into leaders who help make their schools safer, more supportive, engaging and inspiring.  In other words, places where students are poised to excel academically.

This year alone we partnered with more than 40 schools and trained 500 educators.  Nationwide, CSS annually impacts the lives of over 30,000 students in 250 schools.

We could not have done it without caring supporters like you. Together we can to make sure that every student in the United States thrives in schools that graduate them prepared for the rigors of college and lives filled with meaningful work, active citizenship, and personal fulfillment.