Alternative Dispute Resolution / Conflict Management
Resource Guide

SCHOOL-BASED CONFLICT RESOLUTION / ACTIVE PEER MEDIATION PROGRAMS

Peer Mediation Program: Matilija Junior High School
703 El Paseo Ojai, Ca. 93023
Telephone: (805) 640-4355
Program Coordinator: Denise Thomas
Program Description:
      Our program has just started this school year, the funding was in part made possible by a grant we received from our County School offices and the State of California. We currently have 15 trained peer mediators and since September 13,1996, we have had 10 mediations take place. We are slowly figuring out the best possible ways to organize our program any suggestions would be helpful.
      After completing the first semester with our new Peer Mediation program, our staff at Matilija Junior High feels the program is helping to keep the school climate positive. Students using the program to solve their differences has led to less conflict and confrontations on our campus. Currently I have six 8th grade students who are on call every third period to complete the mediations. My other mediators can be used at various times during the school day. The peer mediators are currently writing a booklet to explain our mediation program to anyone interested. We are also in the process of producing a video that will be used to show a demonstration of peer mediation to others.
      I also continue to teach the required quarter class to all our 7th graders. In this class they will learn the basics of peer mediation after learning the concepts of about conflict resolution. This class also explains the area of diversity and how diversity relates to conflict.

Peer Mediation Program: John Glenn Elementary
2385 Horal, San Antonio, Texas 78229
Telephone: (210) 678-2885
John Glenn Elementary is a part of the Northside Independent School District.
Program Coordinator: Patrick Dierschke
Program Description:
     This is our second year of training 4th and 5th graders in the art of conflict resolution. We have 33 mediators who rotate on a daily schedule for formal sessions, and also informally. Teachers are able to focus on teaching, and our in school suspension rate has decreased dramatically. I have discovered that when students talk to other students about their feelings, you can see a change about them, almost a discovery happening within their belief system. I am very fortunate to be associated with this program, and hope to hear from others soon. We are the World Peacemakers.

Peer Mediation Program: Lisha Kill Middle School
Albany, New York
Program Coordinator: Mrs. Moehler
Program Description:
     Mrs. Moehler has been running the peer mediation program at Lisha Kill Middle School for 5 years now and would be happy to field questions anyone might have.

Peer Mediation Program: Point Pleasant Beach High School
700 Trenton Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Program Coordinator: Barbara Cordasco (Vice Principal)
Program Description:
     The peer mediation program at Point Pleasant Beach High School has been in place for 3 years. Barbara Cordasco completed her doctoral dissertation on the subject of selection process. Her school sends students to others schools in order to promote the program.

Peer Mediation Program: The Sheila Mencher School - P.S./M.S. 95
3961 Hillman Avenue, Bronx, New York 10463
Program Coordinator: Herb Bernstein
Program Description:
     Project STOP ( Schools Teaching Options for Peace) has been at our school for 2 years. We are a kindergarten-8 school. Currently the program involves grades 4-8. We have 20 peer mediators in grades 6-8 and are in the process of training 10 fifth graders to work with the fourth and fifth grades. Since the program began, there are fewer fights and more discussion. We are trying to find funding for our program. If anyone knows of any grants available, we would appreciate hearing from you.

Peer Mediation Program: Santa Maria Middle School
Phoenix, AZ
Program Coordinator: Dave Ascoli
Program Description:
     The program is now in its third year since inception. We have 15 mediators for each grade (6-8) for a total of 45. This is the first year I have been involved in the program, I am the 6th grade sponsor. I am currently working on a database that will provide information concerning the number of mediations and success rate. I am also working on implementing a follow-up program so we can go back to the people who have been mediated and get information on how long a "success" works and whether or not the people who have been mediated have had problems with other students.

Peer Mediation Program: Sierra Vista Jr. High School
Santa Clara, CA
Program Coordinator: Jon Curwen
Program Description:
     We have a three year old peer mediation program funded at the start by the City of Santa Clarita, CA (L.A. County). All students receive some exposure to concepts of mediation as seventh graders and some become trained in the spring to serve as mediators in the fall as eighth graders. I'm a certified mediator for Los Angeles County. "Catch a spark, stop a wildfire" is our goal in Southern California.

Peer Mediation Program: Johnston Heights Secondary School
Surrey, British Columbia
Program Coordinator: Nola Holmes
Program Description:
     This is the third year of our program, which serves our school of 1800 students from grades 8-12. We now have 30 student mediators, all of whom are trained for a week in the summer by local professional mediators. After summer training, our mediators take a course with me where they practise their skills and expand their training.

Peer Mediation Program: Carus Elementary School
Oregon City, Oregon
Program Coordinator: Richard Alpert
Program Description:
     We currently have over 50 mediators, trained. This is our second year running this program. We have mediators in grades 3-6. Third and fourth grade mediators work out on the playground, while fifth and sixth graders work on a referral basis. We have training meetings every other Tuesday at which time we get to practice, share successes, and socialize.

Peer Mediation Program: Penn Manor School District
Millersville, PA 17551
Program Coordinator: Rebecca H. Meyer, D.Ed
Program Description:
     I am a coordinator of peer mediation programs in the three elementary school buildings in which I serve as an elementary counselor. I also serve as trainer with other colleagues of mine. Our school district presently has a peer mediation program in 7 out of 7 of its elementary buildings. We are in the heart of Lancaster County, home of the Amish and plain sects. We have had the program for approximately 4 years with about 10 - 12 mediators in each school. Our district's home page is http://www.pmsd.k12.pa.us.
     I did my doctoral dissertation on the use of at-risk students as peer mediators and the effect upon their behavior, self-esteem, etc. I am also presently working with the "Peaceable Schools" concept and have total building programs of violence prevention set up with a first grade 12 week curriculum, etc. and other reinforcements in place.

Peer Mediation Program: McKenzie-Smith Bennett School
Acton, Ontario, Canada
Program Coordinator: Kevin Dorscht
Program Description:
     I am coordinating a Peer Mediation/Helping program. I have developed two programs called "The ROK Group - Reaching Other Kids" and the "Special Friends Program" and they have been working well. We have been running these programs for 7 years and this year have combined both to offer students some preventative intervention as well as mediation. We have over 20 mediators and helpers at our school in grades 7 and 8.

Peer Mediation Program: Northville High School
Northville, Michigan
Program Coordinator: Suzanne Omiatek
Program Description:
     Peer Mediation has been in existence since 1996 second semester. Students can only be in the program for three semesters. There are thirteen trained students second semester now, but there were seventeen first semester. We have had a number of mediations over the past year and almost all have been successful! The teachers seem to like the program and have learned more about Peer Mediation by having their classes come in to our Peer Mediation room and having Mediators explain what the program is and where they can reach us in case they ever need a mediation. We are presently involved in creating a video to help out Mediators for next years program.

Peer Mediation Program: Margaret Beeks Elementary School
709 Airport Road, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060
Program Coordinator: Gladys Hughston
Program Description:
     This is the second year for the Peer Mediation program at our school. Our school has 16 trained mediators who work with 460 students, grades preschool-fifth. Students are on duty on a rotating basis and serve by walking the halls and working with students who have referred themselves for mediation. This year the mediators have student athletes from a local university who have trained with them and are mentors for our program.