Building Empathy in Contentious Times

How can you continue friendships and relationships with people you strongly disagree with? In what ways can you understand perspectives and motivations so different from your own? How can you forgive those who hurt you? While often interchanged with sympathy, the answer lies in a much deeper, complicated acknowledgment of someone else’s position: empathy. With a world divided in too many ways to count, building empathy in yourself is more important now than ever.

Danielle Bernstein, a Possip intern majoring in Human and Organization Development and Sociology at Vanderbilt University, explores the importance of and how to develop empathy.

Three years ago, Possip CEO and founder Shani Dowell highlighted the importance of empathy in children. She discussed her observations of children’s troubling lack of empathy due to the pandemic. She posited that during the pandemic, children viewed the world through their eyes only; they lacked external, communal experiences integral to empathy development.

Today, a hyperpolarized culture, a lack of understanding of our shared humanity, and a systemic focus on our differences rather than our similarities have allowed Shani’s words to remain relevant – and not just for kids. As we enter an incredibly contentious moment in American history this November, we– young adults like me and educators, professionals, and parents like you – must understand the true value of empathy and how to develop it.

The Importance of Empathy

I was an embarrassingly sensitive kid. Every bout of exclusion and one-off comment made me run for the hills. I always wanted my mom to support me unconditionally and speak ill of my playground foes. She executed the former without wavering. However, to my confusion, my mom offered a new perspective with the words “You never know what someone is going through.” 

I internalized those words as I entered high school and later college. I began to understand that people suffering themselves often resort to problematic, hurtful behavior toward themselves or others. This by no means excuses the behavior of those who hurt us, but it reminds us to exercise forgiveness and self-care. Practicing empathy in these situations allows us to understand other’s positions and struggles.

It allows us to view the context behind someone’s actions and decisions. 

Acknowledging the context of others does not simply benefit them. It is vital for self-preservation. Empathy allows us to forgive easier and better distinguish between inexcusable behaviors. Empathy lets us see our closest friends, family, and even strangers as flawed humans who are absolutely still deserving of love and care. Whether someone invalidates your experiences, disagrees with you, or votes for a different candidate, practicing empathy places you in their shoes, allowing you to understand where they are coming from. 

Demonstrating empathy for loved ones can be difficult but necessary, yet it is equally important to demonstrate empathy for strangers. While empathy in relationships creates deeper bonds, empathy for strangers maintains our shared humanity. Empathy helps us break through political and societal polarization. It can help us see the person even when we feel like the other side’s behavior and decisions seem unjustifiable. Empathy allows us to engage in constructive conversations with those we disagree with; it allows us to accept that the people whose beliefs make us scream at our televisions are worthy of kindness and compassion. 

How to Develop Empathy

Most of us don’t just wake up one day with stores of empathy at our disposal. It requires dedication and practice. Below are four actionable steps to cultivate your ability to empathize with others. 

Tip 1: Practice active listening

Active listening goes beyond simply hearing someone. It involves listening to understand rather than to respond. Active listening includes asking open-ended questions to understand the other’s position, practicing empathy in the process. Through active listening, you are better able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Explore more about active listening and its importance in engaging in empathetic but assertive communication here. 

Tip 2: Talk with people who differ from you

Putting a face to the prejudices you hold and positions you despise allows you to understand that there are people behind stances; real, breathing people with whom you likely have more similarities than differences. Engaging in conversations with those different from you develops empathy. You will begin to understand the various motivations and perspectives that influence the behaviors and beliefs you don’t approve of. Engaging in these conversations also allows us to understand how people’s identities have shaped their real-world experiences. 

Tip 3: Seek media that challenges you

Similar to engaging in conversations with those different from you, reading media that highlights opposing viewpoints to your own can facilitate a deeper understanding of those you disagree with. It allows you to understand why people think, feel, and act the way they do. If you’re looking for other news sources or to check the bias of your current sources, check out the Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart. 

Tip 4: Don’t isolate yourself during difficult times

As Shani discussed in her 2021 blog, isolation during difficult times reduces our empathy and understanding for one another. We see things through our own eyes, rarely considering that other viewpoints exist. During difficult times, contentious times, and polarizing times, we must avoid isolation. Isolation allows us to forget the validity of other people’s experiences, and it degrades our sensitivity toward others. 

Ultimately, we must continue to build and demonstrate empathy during contentious times – times when we feel we can’t muster empathy or understanding for others. We can draw on empathy to help maintain our relationships and exercise kindness with all around us. Through practicing empathy, we all can have stronger, deeper relationships, reduce prejudice, and exercise forgiveness. And most importantly, strengthening your ability to empathize will help you sit next to that family member at Thanksgiving and pass them the stuffing.

Listening is what Possip is all about. Learn more here!

Speed Read (tldr) of The Importance Of - And How to Cultivate - Empathy in Contentious Times

1. Understanding Empathy’s Importance: It is crucial for maintaining relationships and understanding differing perspectives, especially in today’s polarized society. It allows individuals to view others as flawed yet deserving of compassion, which aids in forgiveness and conflict resolution.

2. Empathy for Strangers and Loved Ones: Demonstrating empathy not only strengthens personal bonds but also fosters a sense of shared humanity. It helps break down societal divisions, enabling constructive dialogue even with those we strongly disagree with.

3. Practical Steps to Cultivate Empathy: Developing empathy requires intentional effort. Key strategies include practicing active listening, engaging with diverse viewpoints, consuming challenging media, and avoiding isolation during tough times. These practices enhance our ability to connect with others and foster understanding.

Read below for resources, tips, and the why!

The post Building Empathy in Contentious Times appeared first on Possip.

7 Tips to Communicate Academic Progress to Parents

Parents wants to know how their child is progressing academically. Many parents appreciate flexible options to monitor and track their child’s growth. We’ve compiled tips for schools to communicate academic progress effectively.. Use these tips to effectively hit the core competancies of building trusting relationships and working alongside parents.

7 Tips to Communicate Academic Progress

1. Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences

Virtual Parent-Teacher conferences help families with transportation or scheduling issues connect easily. While some parents (and teachers!) may prefer an in-person conversation, giving families a choice makes it easier for parents to attend. 

Planning virtual conferences differs significantly from in-person meetings. Check out Possip’s Tips for Successful Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences. The article includes free resources for agendas and additional tips on how to plan logistics and execute strong virtual parent-teacher conferences.  

2. Support Parent Access to Online Gradebooks or Parent Portals

In this new world of high-tech schooling, not all parents are equally caught up to speed. Learning new skills online isn’t always an easy task, and some parents may not even know how to log-in to a virtual gradebook or parent portal. We recommend first making sure all parents know how to log-in to the gradebook website your campus uses, have their login name and password, and understand where to find their child’s grades.

A few ways to do this include:

• Send out a parent mailer with information on how to successfully check student’s grades. In that mailer, there could be a phone number to call if parents need their log-in information. 
• Publish a monthly parent newsletter all about the topic of understanding your child’s academic progress and giving tips on what parents could be doing to stay in touch with their child’s academic growth.
• If mailers aren’t a great option for your school due to time and resources, you could also send out a text message, like a Possip Bonus Question, to ask parents if they know how to log-in to the gradebook or if they want a staff member to reach out to assist.

Online gradebooks are vital for parents but only useful if they can access them.

Read the full blog in the Possip Membership!

This article consolidates the tips originally posted September 2019 and March 2022. We’ve updated the content and provided a few additional ideas!

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Possip Starter Package: Real-Time Feedback for Real-World Impact: A Simple, Affordable Solution for Leaders

Table of Contents

• Introducing our Pulse Checks Starter Package!
• Who Can Benefit?
• Risk-Free and Affordable
• Get Started Today

As a leader, whether in a government department, nonprofit organization, school, or religious institution, you understand the importance of staying connected with the people you serve. Possip’s Pulse Checks offer a fast, easy, and reliable way to gather feedback, allowing you to make informed, data-driven decisions. With our Starter Package, you can engage up to 100 individuals in your community—quickly, affordably, and effectively.

Introducing our Pulse Checks Starter Package!

Possip’s Starter Package offers real-time feedback for leaders without the complexity of traditional surveys.

Here’s why Pulse Checks are ideal for your organization:

• Quick and Simple: Pulse Checks take just minutes for your community members to complete. You can send them weekly or on a schedule that works for you, making it easy to maintain regular communication with your staff, members, or stakeholders.
• Frictionless Delivery: The first month, Pulse Checks are sent via email. By the second month, you have the option to send them via SMS and/or email, maximizing reach and participation.
• Multi-Language Support: With 2-way translation in up to 100 languages, you can ensure that everyone in your organization has the opportunity to share their feedback, regardless of language barriers.
• Actionable Insights: Possip not only gathers data but also provides detailed reports with trends and insights, helping you quickly identify areas for improvement and celebrate successes.

Who Can Benefit?

Government and Municipal Departments – Improve Efficiencies and Workplace Culture

Looking to engage your staff and improve workplace culture? A police department partnered with Possip to gather insights from their officers.

By ensuring anonymity, the department gauged officer perspectives to support informed decisions. Municipal departments, like city or public safety divisions, can use Pulse Checks to check in with staff regularly and address concerns before they become bigger issues.

Universities and Human-Centered Organizations – Quickly Engage Alumni

Keeping alumni engaged is crucial, and Pulse Checks efficiently gather feedback on experiences and program interest. Pulse Checks offer a simple, efficient way to gather feedback from alumni on their experiences, interests, or willingness to engage with your programs. This can help you build stronger connections and develop programming that meets their needs.

Nonprofit Directors – Get Data To Prove Measurable Outcomes

Nonprofits often need data to demonstrate their impact to funders. Pulse Checks can provide real-time, measurable feedback from staff or beneficiaries, offering valuable insights into program effectiveness and community needs. This data can also help secure funding by showing how you’re actively listening to and addressing the needs of the people you serve.

Religious Leaders – Connect and Serve with Clarity

Pulse Checks can help you stay connected with your congregation, whether you’re gathering prayer requests, assessing interest in new programs, or simply checking in. With up to 100 designated contacts, you can reach a large portion of your community and ensure their voices are heard.

School and University Leaders – Streamline Feedback and Channel Energy

Whether a school principal or university leader, Pulse Checks easily provide real-time data on community needs. This feedback allows you to respond swiftly and strategically to support your community.

Risk-Free and Affordable for Leaders

Enjoy 30 days free with Possip’s Starter Package; after that, it’s just $100 monthly for up to 100 contacts– an affordable way to gather invaluable insights and enhance your organization’s impact.

Get Started Today

Whether you lead a small team or a large department, Possip’s Starter Package provides an easy way to gather feedback for confident leadership. From government departments to nonprofits, religious organizations, and schools, Pulse Checks enable leaders to make data-driven decisions that positively affect their communities.

Start today and see how Possip can help get real-time feedback for real-world impact!

Speed Read (tldr) of Real-Time Feedback for Real-World Impact: A Simple, Affordable Solution for Leaders

1. Quick and Affordable Feedback: Possip’s Pulse Checks provide an easy, low-cost way for leaders to gather real-time feedback from up to 100 individuals, enabling data-driven decision-making with minimal effort.

2. Frictionless Communication: The feedback process is designed to be simple and accessible, offering email and SMS delivery options, as well as multi-language support, ensuring broad participation and inclusivity.

3. Actionable Insights for Improvement: The service not only collects feedback but also delivers detailed reports on trends and insights, helping organizations identify areas for improvement and demonstrate measurable outcomes to stakeholders.

Read below for resources, tips, and the why!

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4 Tips to Boost Campus Safety

For most college students, stepping foot on campus serves as an entry to a new level of independence. Not having a parent waiting for you at home when you arrive past your curfew might feel like respite for students, but for parents, they feel less in control of their children’s well-being and safety. Unfortunately, safety on campus is even more of a concern with the threat of campus shootings and unrest associated with campus protests.

Danielle Bernstein, a Possip intern majoring in Human and Organization Development and Sociology at Vanderbilt University, explores how colleges and universities can support student safety on campus.

Jump to...

• Seek Student and Staff Feedback
• Encourage and Empower Students
• Examine Proactive Nighttime Campus Safety Measures
• Conduct Regular Practice Drills

To ensure student safety and parental peace of mind, we recommend colleges and universities adopt and overcommunicate the following emergency preparedness and safety strategies. While overcommunication can be a trap administrators fall into, safety and security is a topic that cannot be communicated enough.

1. Seek Student and Staff Feedback

The best way to measure the effectiveness of campus safety and communication strategies is to consult the people who are the most impacted. Students and staff participate in drills, walk home alone at night, and call campus security numbers when in crisis. With student feedback, campuses can best improve their safety practices. 

Possip’s Student Pulse Checks expertly gather student feedback and sentiments to understand student perception of their campus and its practices. Campuses can use Possip to assess if students are satisfied with campus safety and probe any pressing themes. Pulse Checks for Staff will give you a deeper understanding of the perception of safety on campus. 

2. Encourage and Empower Students

When a student arrives on campus, they should be aware of important safety strategies they can take every day. Students should know not to walk alone at night, to report suspicious behaviors, and to never leave their drink unattended. However, the reality is that not all students know these strategies. Campuses must educate and communicate with students about how they can adopt safe practices. 

Here are the ways in which campuses can communicate safety strategies and information with students:

• Partner with student groups to host personal safety and self defense courses 
• Have frequent campus signage of emergency numbers and resources
• Place an emphasis on campus safety strategies in first-year and transfer orientations
• Ensure resident advisors discuss safety concerns and strategies with residents
• Require all students to complete bystander intervention training

3. Examine Proactive Nighttime Safety Measures

Administrators and parents alike consistently warn students to avoid walking alone at night. But campuses must acknowledge that students and often staff members sometimes can’t avoid walking home alone. Sometimes, late-night study sessions or hanging out with friends can last well past sunset. In winter months, often classes dismiss after the sun sets! Through acknowledging this reality, campuses can begin to provide proactive resources for students and staff to feel safer as they walk in the dark on campus alone.

Here are the ways campuses can ensure students and staff are as safe as possible when walking alone at night:

• Ensure campus is well-lit at all times and all locations
• Provide buddy services to get students to their homes safely, such as the SafeWalks system at the University of Illinois
• Have emergency alert systems throughout campus
• Offer school shuttles or other transportation services at night

4. Conduct Regular Practice Drills

The best way to learn is by doing, and the same goes for learning necessary safety practices. Students coming out of K-12 have, unfortunately, years of practice with lockdowns and other safety threats. But practices and procedures on campus are different than in a K-12 environment. 

Residence halls and dorms should practice emergency procedures at the beginning of every semester. These procedures should cover fire drills, active shooter drills, and drills for the natural disasters that are most common in the area. Practicing what to do in an emergency ensures students will be prepared if that emergency does ever occur. 

Moreover, faculty and staff should be well-versed in the safety procedures for any classroom or building in which they meet with students. 

To better understand how your campus can use Possip Pulse Checks for Students, click here!

Speed Read (tldr) of 4 Tips to Boost Campus Safety

1. Empower Student Safety Awareness: Colleges should educate students on essential safety strategies, such as avoiding walking alone at night and reporting suspicious behavior, through workshops, signage, and orientation programs.

2. Enhance Nighttime Safety Resources: Institutions need to implement proactive measures for student safety at night, including improved campus lighting, buddy systems, emergency alert systems, and nighttime transportation options.

3. Regular Drills and Student Feedback: Conduct frequent emergency drills for students and staff, and actively seek student feedback on safety practices to continuously improve campus security measures.

The post 4 Tips to Boost Campus Safety appeared first on Possip.

Bullying at School

It’s difficult for a child to learn when their emotions are disregulated or they feel isolated, anxious or unaccepted.  These emotions (and many more) can be the result of bullying, so it’s essential that as school leaders, you get ahead of bullying early in the year and know how to address it when it does arise.  This Bullying 101 article will help you develop a plan to prevent bullying, inform you on signs of bullying and ways to identify it, how to partner with families, and lastly, it will give you confidence to address bullying effectively.

Jump to...

• Prevent Bullying
• Identify Bullying
• Start With Empathy
• Next Steps: Bullying 101 at School​
• Bullying and Student Discipline Solutions
• Preventing Bullying: How Schools and Parents Can Partner​
• Teaching Bullying 101 to Parents
• Creating a Clear Mode of Communication for Students and Parents
• School Safety and Mental Health Awareness at Fayetteville

Prevent Bullying

One of the best bullying 101 strategies when shaping young minds is to tell them what TO do, rather than what NOT to do. This approach applies to anti-bullying as well.  Rather than continuously telling children not to bully one another, let’s instead focus on helping them grow into kind individuals who have strong character and act with integrity. Build a school culture where differences are celebrated, inclusivity is apparent and positive relationships abound. 

Another important aspect of bullying prevention is to ensure that all students and families know your school’s policy.  Communicate to your school community that there will be consistent, significant consequences for those who bully others.  We recommend sharing this information in a multitude of ways, such as your website, a newsletter or a family handbook.

Identify Bullying

Despite your best efforts to prevent bullying, it may still be present at your school, so it’s essential that you, your staff members and the families in your school community can identify it.  Below are some descriptors from the American Academy of Pediatrics that you may find helpful.  

What Bullying IS: Bullying is harmful, intentional and constant.  It involves a power imbalance and can be physical, verbal or psychological. 

What Bullying is NOT:  Bullying is not when students merely argue or disagree, or make poor behavior choices.

It is important to note that there are certain groups of children who are more at risk of being bullied.  These groups include students with disabilities, the LGBTQIA community, and children who are seemingly different from their peers (very small or overweight), to name a few.   Closely observe interactions between students and look for a change in eating or sleeping habits, unusual moodiness, avoidance of situations such as riding the bus or generally seeming withdrawn.  In addition, you’ll want to make note of unexplained injuries or (fake) illnesses as well as a decline in academic performance.  StopBullying.gov is a great resource to help you dive deeper into this topic.

The reality is, bullying happens even with the best planning. Also, we have found that parents can give grace when their child experiences bullying at school. However, they can get frustrated when there isn’t a plan to address it. Here are tips on how to respond to bullying.

Start With Empathy

When you hear about bullying try to take a moment, even just a few minutes, to empathize with everyone involved – what this must feel like to the student who is being bullied, what this must feel like to their parents, and what might be going on for the student who is bullying.

This is tough for everyone – most specifically anyone who is feeling unsafe physically or emotionally.  We know everyone aspires for schools to be a place where kids can feel safe and secure, and fear of bullying prevents that from happening.

So you hear a bullying incident happens. What now?

How can Possip help? Let's talk!

Next Steps: Bullying 101 at School

First, there is a difference between a kid being rude, a kid being mean, and a kid bullying. 

1 – Communicate what you know as soon as possible to parents.  

Sometimes we are hesitant to reach out to parents until we have everything – but we really can and should communicate with what we know.

2 – Learn, learn, learn and question, question, question. 

Often learning about what is happening is a bit like peeling the onion – so ask lots of questions, do lots of observations.

3 – Take action to support students. 

Move quickly to make sure students feel safe, supported, and trust that the school is taking care of them. Help them connect with other students and help them feel safe. 

4 – Prioritize safety.  

Prioritize safety – so if desks need to be moved or a student’s schedule needs to be changed, do so.

5 – Stay in constant contact with parents. 

There are so many ways for parents to play an active role. It will make parents feel better to be empowered to support their child.bully

6 – Consequences and interventions.  

If one child is threatening or making another child feel unsafe, they do need consequences and interventions. This is important both for the learning opportunity for the student who is bullying – as well as for the safety and health of the child being bullied.

Ultimately, like everything in schools, even a stressful bully event is a learning opportunity.  We’d love to work alongside you as you learn. 

Click here to read the full blog in our Possip Membership

Bullying and Student Discipline Solutions

Possip Reporter and Tennessee AP teacher, Savannah Staley, discusses trends in bullying and student discipline.

Parents, students and staff tell us the negative effects of bullying – low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. As the world goes more virtual, bullying is harder to spot, report, and stop. Still bullying and student discipline are top priorities for educators, administrators, and families alike.  In fact, in our Pulse Checks the past school year, bullying and student discipline was one of the top trends across students, parents, and school staff.  This is unique.

Here are some bullying 101 tips for addressing bullying, restoring student relationships, and building a positive school culture.

1. Promote a culture of safety.

When we promote a culture of safety, students feel more freedom to learn, explore, and express themselves. Safety is itself, somewhat subjective. So we need to ask ourselves, safe for who? 

The goal is not to control students, or to put extreme limitations on their autonomy, but they should feel safe. This means a proactive (rather than reactive) approach to managing bullying and student discipline. You can promote a culture of safety by:

• Establishing whole-school and classroom community norms and expectations.  Make sure students know what they can expect – in terms of routines, consequences, and expectations.
• Celebrating achievements as well as vulnerability.  Celebrate students in  multiple forms for meeting expectations.  Celebrate students for the small things – bringing a pencil or pen to class, letting another student go in front of them in line, helping a student pick up papers they dropped.  Celebrate individual and school-wide behavioral 
• Creating time for student check-ins.  You can use an individual check in or a system like Possip or other technology platforms.  But you want to give students a space to share what they are feeling and experiencing – and why.

2. Practice restorative practices.

Stopping bullying is important – but not your full aspiration for a great school culture.  A safe space without bullying is the floor. You want to go higher – and that includes authentically healing the relationship. Bullying is the result of insecurity, trauma, and pain. So it’s not enough to simply address the behavior. You want to uncover the why underneath. By practicing and modeling restorative practices, you can co-create a culture of healing and trust. Here are some examples of restorative practices.

Hold space for restorative circles within your classroom communities and schools regularly.

Provide opportunities for students to calm their nervous systems and regulate before engaging in restorative conversation.

Get curious and ask questions rather than assuming or blaming.

Focus on the person, not on the behavior.

Practice empathy.

3. Align on a student discipline model and stick to it!

It’s tough to get everyone on the same page. When we invite others into the conversation, there’s often more engagement and support. Consider inviting teachers, families, and perhaps even students, into a conversation regarding your school discipline model. Once you have that discipline model in place, stick to it! 

4. Know your students.

This is easier said than done.  Still, it is one of the most important ways to prevent bullying or support students going through it.  When you’re familiar with your students, you’re more likely to notice abnormalities. Additionally, when students feel known, they often also feel safe to confide in trusted adults. When teaching, students sometimes didn’t want to be grouped together. These reasons weren’t always big enough for me to reconsider my grouping. But sometimes they were. You want to create a culture of trust.  At the same time, you want to support students who are learning to trust themselves. As educators, it’s our responsibility to listen and honor these boundaries.  There is not a clear way to prevent conflicts. When we work together as a team and prioritize student safety and vulnerability, we make our schools stronger for everyone.

How can Possip help students feel heard and valued? Let's talk!

Preventing Bullying: How Schools and Parents Can Partner

Bullying rates are on the rise. According to a survey done by YouthTruth, 1 in 3 students are bullied in schools. As a parent and principal, seeing a statistic like this is hard.  Is bullying different or is the definition of bullying changing? What are ways we can be active in preventing bullying?

The reality is, what we the adults think matters a lot less than what the kids think.

We shouldn’t put words into our kids’ mouths, and we should caution against overly inflammatory language.  Still, if a child thinks they are being bullied, we need to trust their assessment.

As a school principal, it can seem like an impossible task to be the one responsible for preventing bullying. There are so many places it can happen – before school, walking home, during class, recess, at home through social media, etc.

We find taking one step at a time can result in huge improvements in the school community and culture.  Here are some proactive ways to start:

Proactive Ways to Prevent Bullying – Character Building, Beyond

Let’s be real–kids not bullying other kids is a minimum expectation. As such, focusing on bullying prevention can ring hollow.  While every kid can run the risk of falling into bullying behavior, as principals and parents we aspire for much for our kids. So let’s raise the bar. Instead of focusing on not bullying with kids, focus on what kind and brave leadership looks like.

When kids can create a vision of themselves of being a kind and brave leader, they start to see their responsibility in treating others kindly.  They start to see themselves as one who sets the tone for how others are treated – not just in preventing bullying.

Here are a few ideas of character building structures:

There are programs like The Leader in Me that Possip school Napier Elementary uses.  Possip partner Nashville Classical uses their school core values, an acronym called the FIRST values (Focus, Integrity, Responsibility, Scholarship, Teamwork).  We have also found holidays like Kwanzaa offer an opportunity to talk about character beyond bullying.  Brene Brown has a program called the Daring Classroom that some educators in our network have found interesting. 

Preventing Bullying 101 Lessons For Kids

In addition to larger character building work, tactically talking about and teaching anti-bullying is important. At the beginning of the year, think about whole school lessons you could do on bullying prevention. The first week of school is a great time to build trusting relationships with students and staff through these culture building activities or lessons.

Here are a few anti-bullying resources:

• Here is a movie on bullying with curricular resources to show students and have a few lessons on this topic: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/bully/ 
• Here’s a link to websites, organizations, articles, planning guides, lesson plans, and other resources dedicated to preventing bullying and harassment: https://www.edutopia.org/article/bullying-prevention-resources 
• Here’s a link to resources and activities you can use in classrooms to combat bullying: https://www.edutopia.org/article/bullying-prevention-resources  
• Here’s a list of organizations that partner with schools to combat bullying and PD resources for bullying: https://www.tolerance.org/professional-development/bullying-help-resources-and-partners 
• Here are a bunch of resources for principals to help deal with bullying issues: https://www.naesp.org/bullying-prevention-resources 

Teaching Bullying 101 to Parents

Teaching parents the signs of bullying and also the difference between bullying and mean moments is a great first step. This is especially important for 6th grade parents coming from elementary school to middle school. Hosting a parent training on bullying 101 with prevention resources and information at the beginning of the year is one way to do this.

You can also send home some activities or topics in a parent newsletter that parents can discuss with their students about bullying prevention.

For parents, bullying starts to get tricky for them too! They start to see things happening to their kid, with their kid, and sometimes see things on social media of concern.

Having parents help teach these topics, equipping them to notice if bullying is happening, and giving them an outlet (like Possip or some other mechanism) to share when they see bullying happening will help you immensely as the school year progresses.

Knowing the differences between a mean moment and bullying will allow students, parents, and teachers to have a common definition of bullying and decide on what action steps to take.

This was something I went through with parents frequently throughout the year when determining the conclusion of a bullying investigation. I made a quick one-pager with the definition of each and referred to that frequently. If the situation ended up being either a rude or mean moment, they should still be addressed and are unacceptable ways to treat others in the school community. The RULER Blueprint tool was effective in resolving those conflict situations along with situational consequences and restorative assignments. Here is also a helpful article to get started on teaching this terminology to your school community:

Here is a framework for assessing the behavior.

Social Media and Bullying 101

A sub-component of teaching parents about bullying can be a Social Media 101. Social Media 101 can give parents tips on how to monitor their child’s social media.  This is especially important during the middle school and high school years.

Parents and I have created solutions like:

• Not allowing child to have their phone past 8pm
• Having daily checks of social media messages and posts
• Following child on social media accounts to see content posted
• Only allowing them to have one social media platform
• Downloading a social media monitoring app (examples here: https://www.learningliftoff.com/5-best-monitoring-apps-for-parents/)
• Teaching Correct Terminology to Students, Parents, and Teachers

Creating a Clear Mode of Communication for Students and Parents

Make sure students have, and know, a safe way to communicate to staff if they feel they are being bullied. Some parents have used Possip to help articulate when their kid is feeling bullied or unsafe – knowing the specifics helps the school intervene.

You can also consider having an anonymous “mailbox” outside of your office or in a neutral location that students can slip a form in when they either see a student in need of help or feel they need help but don’t know who to go to.

Also, having a secure online google form for students and parents to submit detailed information about a bullying issue could be a more comfortable method of communication for these sensitive concerns.

If you want help thinking through your anti-bullying strategies, email hello@possip.com or sign up to learn more about Possip with the button below!

Build trust through Pulse Checks!

School Safety and Mental Health Awareness at Fayetteville

Dr. Claudia Styles, the Supervisor of Federal Programs at Fayetteville City Schools, sheds light on the critical issues of school safety and mental health within their educational community. Recognizing the impact of bullying and the overall school climate on students’ well-being, Fayetteville took proactive steps to address these concerns. Through a grant initiative, they were able to hire three social workers who implemented innovative strategies, including weekly community talks where students could express their feelings in a safe environment. 

The data collected using Possip allows Fayetteville to pave the way for long-term success. Dr. Styles shares how the data and insights from Possip surveys help to strengthen their grant applications. Additionally, Fayetteville initiated parent training sessions, leveraging feedback from Possip surveys to tailor their programs effectively. With virtual trainings and targeted interventions, Fayetteville City Schools continues to prioritize the safety and mental health of students, fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Read the rest of the Possip Partner Spotlight here!

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Get the Data You Need to Prove the Impact of Your Nonprofit’s Programs

Measurable outcomes. Metrics. Programmatic ROI. If you’ve worked for a nonprofit organization, you know that funders require data to justify their philanthropic efforts. Justifiably so – don’t we all want to get the biggest bang for our buck?

As you carefully plan your programs, creating achievable and measurable outcome statements is essential to securing funding. To demonstrate your program(s) impact, you need benchmark data. You need statistical evidence that you are inspiring change, that the people you serve are benefiting from their efforts and your planning or facilitation. 

Possip works with nonprofit organizations to break traditional barriers to getting real time data. We help organizations collect that critical data in the easiest way possible: through a text message. And if your participants don’t have access to a phone, we provide a weblink that they can use well. Our team works with you to make sure your Pulse Check questions are consistent, quick, and written in a clear and simple way that is easy to understand and for our technology to translate into over 100 languages.

Consider all the surveys and self-reporting you ask of your participants. Most likely, you gather beginning-of-the-program information to help you establish your baseline. Then you might have a survey or exit ticket after every session or mid-program to make sure you’re on course. At the end there’s a final survey to see demonstrable growth over the course of your program.

Pulse Checks can help you track that data over time – as often as weekly if you choose. Below we’ve rounded up examples of questions nonprofits have asked the people they serve through Pulse Checks.

Questions Nonprofits Ask The People They Serve Through Pulse Checks

Determining Participant Needs

• What is your biggest barrier to meeting goals? Please respond with ALL number choices that apply: 1) Transportation 2) Childcare 3) Time 4) Debt 5) Relationship(s) 6) Education 7) Health 8) Other, please share
• What is a goal you currently have and how can your assigned staff person help you meet it?

Measuring Program Impact

• Has [this program] helped you and your family progress towards your goals? Please reply: YES, MOSTLY, or NO.

Gauging Satisfaction, General

• Would you refer a friend to [our org]? Please reply: YES, MAYBE, or NO and share any additional comments.

Gauging Satisfaction, Specific Programming Elements

• How satisfied have you been with your [case manager]? Please respond with a number from the choices below: 1) Very satisfied 2) Satisfied 3) Neutral 4) Unsatisfied 5) Very unsatisfied
• What feedback do you have for how we can improve the enrollment process?
• How accommodating has your assigned staff member been to working with your schedule? Please answer with a number from the choices below and any additional explanation of the reason: 1) Very accommodating 2) Accommodating 3) Not very accommodating 4) Not accommodating at all
• On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being very helpful and 5 being very unhelpful), how would you rate the [program workbook]? 1) Very helpful 2) Helpful 3) Neutral 4) Unhelpful 5) Very unhelpful

Surveying Interest

• Program participants will have future access to [an additional program]. It is a free program that focuses on helping people build better budgeting habits. Are you interested in signing up for this when it becomes available? Please reply: YES, MAYBE, or NO.

What data do you need to collect to demonstrate your program’s impact? How would your program change or evolve if you had regular insights into the needs, ideas, and top concerns of the people you serve? 

We’d love to partner with you to amplify their voices – whether it’s to support you in a grant proposal or to help create metrics to share with your Board of Directors. Let’s talk about what Pulse Checks could look like for your organization!

Let’s talk!

Speed Read (tldr) of Get the Data You Need to Prove the Impact of Your Nonprofit’s Programs

1. Data Collection for Impact Measurement: Nonprofits need benchmark data and measurable outcomes to demonstrate program effectiveness to funders. Utilizing tools like Pulse Checks, which enable real-time data collection via text or web, can streamline this process.

2. Comprehensive Feedback Mechanism: Pulse Checks facilitate ongoing engagement by gathering participant feedback on barriers, satisfaction, and program impact, allowing organizations to adapt and improve services based on direct input from those they serve.

3. Support for Program Improvement and Funding: Regular insights from participants help nonprofits refine their offerings and enhance grant proposals, ultimately strengthening their case for funding and improving overall programmatic ROI.

The post Get the Data You Need to Prove the Impact of Your Nonprofit’s Programs appeared first on Possip.