John Gregg Elementary School’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program has officially gotten underway with students learning how to make good decisions.
DARE works with students in grades K-12 with grade-appropriate subjects such as peer pressure, drug dangers, and making good choices. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Gorby, who serves as the school resource officer, recently wound down a four-week session for fourth graders and has since started programs for second- and sixth-grade classes. The fourth-grade program ran from Dec. 5-Jan. 8 with four sessions held before and after the holiday break due to weather-related school delays and cancellations. The second-grade program includes two 20-minute sessions held each week from Jan. 13-Feb. 4 and the sixth-grade program includes a 45-minute session planned each week over a 10-week period and running from Jan. 16-March 20, weather permitting.
Gorby, who is in his second year as SRO at John Gregg, said the program themes are specifically tailored to each grade level and the sixth-graders’ sessions will culminate with a graduation and DARE certification.
“We follow the DARE decision-making model and discuss how to make better choices,” he said. “We look at problem solving and how to define, assess, respond, and evaluate.”
He said fourth-graders gained an understanding about bullying and recognizing harmful versus helpful drugs, while second-graders are learning about who to call during emergencies, how to follow directions, how to tell when things are safe to touch, taste, smell and eat, and to be aware of what is around them. Meanwhile, sixth-grade students will learn about the affects of alcohol and vaping on young, developing bodies and minds, how to handle risky situations and make safe and responsible choices, resistance strategies and responding to social, peer, and self-based pressure, how to identify stress and its effects on the body and communicate them to others, and bullying.
“DARE is more encompassing. It’s not just about alcohol and drug use; it’s more about becoming a better citizen,” Gorby continued, saying the response has been great. “There’s been a really good response to the fourth-grade talk. The amount of participation was incredible, considering it was my first class to teach.”
Gorby underwent DARE training in Columbus in September along with other JCSO deputies and local law enforcement officials, where they prepared to work with grades K-12, studying curriculum material and creating lesson plans to present to youth on topics ranging from 9-1-1 emergency calling to Stranger Danger. The trainees completed presentations at the academy before working with elementary schoolchildren in the Columbus area. Gorby said he will attend future sessions to gain updates on any changes in the curriculum.
“Every few years they revamp the curriculum and I’ll attend a DARE/SRO conference to discuss what we’re seeing in schools and program changes,” he said, noting there were potential hopes of expanding DARE programs into Stanton Elementary and Edison Jr./Sr. High School.
Gorby concluded that he was enjoying his new role, which takes him out of his usual routine and puts him into the classroom.
“It gives me more one-on-one time with the kids,” he said. “I get to provide some knowledge to them and make a difference.”