For additional information, please contact Tori Taylor, Counselor Coordinator.

Teen Drug and Alcohol Use – 

Parents are the greatest influence on their kids – even more than friends, TV, music, the Internet, and celebrities. A teen’s experimentation with drugs and alcohol can quickly escalate to the weekend or daily use. It is critical that parents have conversations with their children to discuss the dangers and parent expectations regarding drug and alcohol use. 

Be on the lookout for these symptoms of substance abuse among friends and loved ones:

• Sudden weight loss
• Chronic coughing, runny nose 
• Loss of appetite or excessive hunger
• Change in sleep patterns, sleeping in class 
• Skipping school or a sudden drop in grades
• Uncommon behavior problems at home and school
• Showing drastic changes in behavior or personality
• Change in friends
• Stealing
• Loss of interest in activities and/or pastimes
• Secretive behavior and frequent absences from home
• Posts on social media referencing drugs and/or alcohol

Early treatment can lead to:

• Improved quality of life for the individual and their family.
• Better education results from a clear, healthy mind ready to learn and excel.
• Higher productivity in school, in their future employment, and in every aspect of their lives. 
• Less opportunity to get in trouble at school or with the law because of fewer behavior problems.

Kindness, Empathy, and Compassion as a Proactive Approach to Bullying

Interestingly, when most of us see the words kindness and compassion we often think of how the world should treat each other. For now, I want to focus attention on our circle of control. As Stephen Covey explains Victor Frankl’s quote, we have the ability to create a space between a stimulus and a response, and in between is our freedom to choose. While this concept is inspiring; practicing it can be quite difficult. It requires self-discipline and attention to our choices.

Our students are supported to practice and develop skills of curiosity, perseverance, and compassion. These traits help our students live out the 7 Habits which include developing skills necessary for self-compassion and firm boundaries. They have the opportunity at Village Tech to learn more about who they are (character) while they are at school each week. We are supporting people (with the tools and knowledge) to build themselves.

Many traditional approaches to bullying focus on the negative behaviors of bullying. Instead, at Village Tech, we choose to focus on the positive attributes of kindness, empathy, and compassion to combat meanness and bullying. Susan Kaiser Greenland, an expert teacher of mindfulness to children, studies and writes about the importance of self-compassion in our children and adults states, “teaching strong, personal boundaries always begins with self-compassion.” This is an antidote to bullying.

Some of the tools are learning the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and learning and practicing social-emotional learning skills. To punctuate this learning we engage in experiences through our academics, Forge, and campus activities Every February, we celebrate Kindness Week, join us in celebrating and discovering more about acts of kindness, empathy toward others, and compassion for others as well as ourselves.

VT engages in several staff development experiences to build the bandwidth in all staff to identify, intervene, and stop bullying.   VT provides training for all school staff, including, but not limited to, teachers, aides, and support staff, on preventing, identifying, and responding to bullying.

Bully Prevention Training for Administrators, Teachers, and Staff

Kognito online modules are available to staff.  Counseling Services provides yearly training to staff on prevention and how to minimize impact through social-emotional competencies.

Bullying Resources

Bullying: Harassment Complaint Form

Bullying Prevention

The Village Tech Counseling Department provides social, emotional, and college/career counseling to students individually, in groups, and in classroom lessons.  We utilize prevention, intervention, and responsive services to address the immediate concerns of students. Our department uses a collaborative approach with staff, students, parents, and the community to support our student’s overall well-being.  For more information please contact Victoria Taylor – Pk-5 Counselor, Stephanie Trotter – Middle School Counselor, Christina Brannon – HS Counselor, or Andy Ingram – Post Secondary Advisor.