Webster City students will hear anti-bullying activist Keith Deltano speak on Thursday, Aug. 24. There will be two student presentations geared towards different learning audiences. One for grades three through six and one for grades seven through 12.

“He likes to break up his presentations into certain grade level bands in order to give them the message they need,” said Dr. Adam Zellmer, director of teaching and learning in the Webster City School District. “He’s a former teacher, so he really understands adolescents and he really understands the growth and evolution of students.”

The start of the new school year is the perfect time for this message, according to Zellmer.

“We’re trying to create that positive learning environment for our students and this is just another way we’re hoping to improve that culture and climate and positive learning environment,” said Zellmer.

Deltano uses serious comedy to draw attention to bullying and harassment – an issue that is found throughout schools across the country.

“We had an opportunity to get Keith while he’s on a national tour coming through and just thought it’s the perfect way to kick off the school year with a fresh start and get that message out at the beginning of the year,” said Zellmer.

Webster City staff and educators will spend their in-service that afternoon with Deltano.

“Our teachers will be working with him exclusively, our whole staff actually…will all be working with him for two hours that afternoon,” Zellmer said.

The community is also invited to hear Deltano speak on Thursday night at the Webster City High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. This is open to all parents and community members that are interested in partnering with the district and learning tangible, proven strategies that they can use to help support their kids.

“We really want and need those parents to be involved because they are that third critical, crucial component to having a successful anti-bullying campaign program,” Zellmer said. “Come with an open mind. We definitely need you there.”

As bullying happens throughout the country, Deltano is spreading the message on how to combat bullying issues at the student level. With the progression of social media, prevention is key to ensure youths are interacting with respect and purpose online.

“I think every school in the United States is constantly dealing with bullying and harassment issues,” said Zellmer. “Now with the advent of social media, the younger that students are when they start to use social media and just the increased presence of social media, it all definitely causes us to take a new look and perspective to continue to educate our students on how to prevent bullying and harassment.”

Deltano is an internationally known speaker and has presented to over 3,000 schools. His focus is on taking a three-prong approach to curbing bullying and harassment.

According to Deltano, it takes parents, school staff and students working together to get down to the root and help solve and prevent bullying and harassment.

Deltano’s visit even comes with a curriculum schools can use after his speech.

“A lot of the time you have a speaker come in and it’s great and everything is rolling and wonderful for three or four weeks and then everything goes back to business as usual,” said Zellmer. “One thing that’s nice with this curriculum is it provides continuing lessons and continued education that then the teachers and parents can use after his presentation is over.”

Zellmer describes the curriculum as practical, tangibile and hands-on.

“The curriculum gives us an ability to all work together,” said Zellmer. “We’re always working to figure out how schools and students and parents can partner to provide the best and safest learning environment that we can possibly provide for our students.”

“We’re going to take that curriculum then and we’re going to continue to move forward and use the things that we’re taught that day to help support our students and to help to partner with parents to provide a safe learning environment for our students,” said Zellmer.

Deltano researches board policy, state law and other legal sources to ensure that each speech caters specifically to which school and age group he is speaking to. According to Zellmer, Deltano works hard to apply a personalized approach.

“We’ve had an opportunity to talk to him and he’s excited about coming here. He does a great job of focusing the presentation on the state your from,” said Zellmer. “Every state has different laws with regard to bullying and with regards to how cyber bullying and technology works.”

School staff and administration is excited to hear Deltano speak and to be given the chance to work with him.

“The school board is on board and in support and that’s always great to have their backing and support,” said Zellmer. “I know our administrative team is excited to have Keith come in.”

“I think Webster City has always prided itself on trying to bring in great, highly-recognized and proven speakers,” Zellmer said. “That’s been something the district has prided itself on for a long time as far as providing professional development for teachers and for student assemblies.”

Zellmer most appreciates Deltano’s emphasis on the need for students, parents and educators to join forces.

“We appreciate the focus of his message and how he does want it to be a partnership,” said Zellmer. “That’s something we strive to do here at Webster City Schools is to have that partnership developed and remain strong between parents, the community and the school.”

Cyberbullying in one of Deltano’s main focal points. With an increase in technology and the age of students using it, it is difficult for the school district to prevent cyberbullying without the help of parents and students.

“Unfortunately when that stuff happens in the evening or on the weekends, when that starts carrying over and affecting the learning environment, that’s difficult,” said Zellmer.

Every student from pre-k to 12th grade has access to an iPad or iPad mini. Students in grades three and up are allowed to take their devices home on nights and weekends. Students are taught digital citizenship in an effort to ensure they are using technology safely and wisely. The district uses the Common Sense Media curriculum.

“They do focus on social media use and effective social media use, but there are so many other components of digital citizenship that are taught too,” Zellmer said.

As technology continues to expand and take on new forms, part of Deltano’s message will be getting students and parents on the same digital page.

“I think a lot of our parents and a lot of our teachers, they didn’t grow up as digital natives, so even though they might be on social media they never experienced it as a student,” said Zellmer. “So it’s hard sometimes for them to relate.”

Zellmer hopes to see community members, parents, students and educators absorb Deltano’s message and use it to make the Webster City School District the best it can be.

“It’s when we all work together that we’re going to be successful and have the greatest impact. We don’t want to be reactive, we want to be proactive in this approach,” said Zellmer. “It does take us all working together. The school can’t do it along. The parents can’t do it alone. Our students without the support of parents and teachers can’t handle it on their own.”

For more information about Deltano, visit www.dontbullyonline.com.