Jan 28 2025 16 mins 1
Welcome to season 5 of Arkansas A.W.A.R.E.!
The Valley Spring School District in Arkansas has implemented a "phone-free" policy for the current school year, where students are required to place their phones in secured pouches during the school day. The key points from the transcript are:
Join Betsy Kindall and Nicole Fairchild as they discuss issues related to mental health in education. Their conversations are witty and relate-able, simultaneously shedding light on issues that can sometimes be hard to confront or understand. These episodes are chunked into small bites and packed with information that would be helpful to educators, parents, children.....anyone! We want to help make everyone more A.W.A.R.E.!
Project A.W.A.R.E. is a grant program funded by S.A.M.H.S.A. (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). The Sandy Hook school shooting happened in December of 2012. In 2013 the White House initiative "NOW IS THE TIME" came out with 2 key goals:
1. Make schools safer and more nurturing.
2. Increase access to mental health services.
The "NOW IS THE TIME" initiative laid the foundation for federal grants like A.W.A.R.E. Arkansas applied for and received the second round of funding for A.W.A.R.E. in October of 2018. Our project is dedicated to Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education.
Arkansas A.W.A.R.E.
Transcript
Resources:
A.W.A.R.E. website
Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
DESE Podcasts
Join the conversation anywhere you listen to podcasts!
The Valley Spring School District in Arkansas has implemented a "phone-free" policy for the current school year, where students are required to place their phones in secured pouches during the school day. The key points from the transcript are:
- The decision to go phone-free was driven by discipline issues, mental health concerns, and a desire for more consistency in enforcing the previous phone policy.
- The results so far have been very positive, with teachers reporting improved student engagement, fewer discipline issues, and better communication between students and staff.
- The school district has seen benefits in terms of improved executive functioning skills, emotional regulation, and an overall happier and more interactive school environment.
Join Betsy Kindall and Nicole Fairchild as they discuss issues related to mental health in education. Their conversations are witty and relate-able, simultaneously shedding light on issues that can sometimes be hard to confront or understand. These episodes are chunked into small bites and packed with information that would be helpful to educators, parents, children.....anyone! We want to help make everyone more A.W.A.R.E.!
Project A.W.A.R.E. is a grant program funded by S.A.M.H.S.A. (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). The Sandy Hook school shooting happened in December of 2012. In 2013 the White House initiative "NOW IS THE TIME" came out with 2 key goals:
1. Make schools safer and more nurturing.
2. Increase access to mental health services.
The "NOW IS THE TIME" initiative laid the foundation for federal grants like A.W.A.R.E. Arkansas applied for and received the second round of funding for A.W.A.R.E. in October of 2018. Our project is dedicated to Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education.
Arkansas A.W.A.R.E.
Transcript
Resources:
A.W.A.R.E. website
Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
DESE Podcasts
Join the conversation anywhere you listen to podcasts!
