Mock trial

Dr Lynn Carter

What is your job?

Chief Program Officer at the Center for student Safety and Well Being located in Indianapolis, Where I have worked for over 20 years

What do you do in your role?

I oversee research initiatives, lead training for educators, and work with administrators to develop policies that protect students from harassment and emotional harm.

Where did you first graduate from?

I graduated from Ball State Universiy

What did you study?

A Bachelor of science in education and psychology 

Following Ball State, where did you work?

 I worked at Munster High School

Tell me about your time at Munster High School

A lot of students faced challenges that went beyond academics

What did you decide to do after the few years of teaching at Munster

I went back to Ball State to get my master of arts in school counseling

Why did you make that decision

I wanted a more direct role in students' social and emotional needs

Was there anything in particular that made you want that role?

I saw problems pushed aside too often

Was there a particular focus of your master’s degree?

I focused on school counseling practice

What does that include?

 student wellness, academic support, and how to intervene when students report harassment or distress

After that decade, was there another path you decided to take?

Yes, I returned to Ball State again to complete my Ph.D in Counseling Psychology

What did you specialize in?

Research on school climate, harassment prevention, and specific policies that protect student emotional well-being

And, how would you define bullying?

that would be a form of harassment, peer-to-peer that involves intimidation, exclusion, or ridicule.

What does the term, emotional distress refer to?

That's what harassment causes. being anxiety, depression or behavioral changes

At the CSSWB, how do you define harassment?

W: it is repeated or targeted behavior that harms a student's well-being or sense of safety 

A: Okay, would you define ordinary conflict for me?

W: that is a normal disagreement, which can happen to anyone regardless of age.

A: How would you say that ordinary conflict and harassment differ?

W: Harassment is ongoing, and will most likely cause emotional distress if not stopped immediately. While ordinary conflict can be resolved without outside intervention.

What is this 4 step protocol?

Protocol to make sure schools can handle reports of harassment and bullying consistently.

What would the first step be?

Recognition

What is recognition?

Adults in the building or the school, are able to identify conflict, harassment and bullying.

Why is this important?

Because if mislabeled harassment or bullying as anything else, students remain exposed to ongoing harm.

What is the second step?

Reporting and Documentation

A: What should be done during this step?

W: The same adult that 

A: What is the 3rd step?

W: Intervention and protection

A: What must the school do to follow this?

W: step in and prevent the students doing the harassing by any means, such as punishment. 

A: What is the 4th step?

W:Follow up and support

A: What must schools do during that step?

W: make sure the intervention has been effective. Things like monitor online, check back in with the victim of harassment, things like that.

What tends to happen when schools follow this protocol?

W: We can ensure the students are protected and can thrive in school.

A: And what tends to happen when schools put these steps aside?

W: The harassment continues and results in poor student well-being.