PORT ANGELES — Twenty-eight Port Angeles High School students have been certified as mediators after undergoing peer mediation and conflict resolution training.
The training was conducted by CRU Institute, a Bellevue company specializing in setting up high school peer mediation and curriculum.
The student mediators, known as Peacekeepers, learned to help their peers define problems, communicate feelings, find common ground and brainstorm potential solutions.
This fall, the certified Peacekeepers will undergo a follow-up training with CRU Institute staff.
New students also can apply to be trained in mediation then.
Students in conflict can be referred to Peacekeepers by administrators, teachers and peer mediators, in addition to self referrals.
Referral forms are available in the Port Angeles High School Guidance Center.
Mediation will be conducted as quickly as possible to prevent disputes from elevating, and to promote a timely resolution.
A Port Angeles High School junior, Madison Baumann, and her father, Mark Baumann, attorney and mediator, suggested the idea for the school program.
The Baumanns had help from AmeriCorps/VISTA worker Taylor Schraudner and Port Angeles High School junior Chloe Johnston.
“Taylor Schraudner did a super job of restructuring her North Olympic Youth Corps VISTA position to incorporate Peacekeepers, writing and winning a grant for the $1,500 we needed, and helping incorporate the AmeriCorps program in as the primary agency for coordinating mediators with students who need to get an issue resolved,” Mark Baumann said.
The Port Angeles Education Foundation awarded Peacekeepers the $1,500 grant for purchase of peer mediation curriculum materials and initial training.
The program was started without any funds from the school district, and with minimal staff and district resource commitment.
North Olympic Youth Corps, is still in need of funds to cover additional training costs, supplies and travel.
For more information, phone Schraudner at 360-504-1201 or e-mail tschraudner@portangelesschools.org.
