Bullying Campaign a Success

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2015

Editorial Contacts:
Stephen Betzen, Office Manager, (214) 646-1570, sbetzen@dallasreading.com
Cliff Pearson, Communications Coordinator, (214) 646-1570, cpearson@dallasreading.com

Speech Clinic Declares ‘Be a Star, Not a Bully’ Campaign a Success at Conclusion of Bullying Prevention Month

(DALLAS, October 30 2015) – October was National Bullying Prevention Month. Dallas Reading and Language Services hosted a “Be a Star, Not a Bully” campaign that exceeded expectations and made positive a positive impact on the lives of the children they serve, and they are declaring a success for the campaign on three fronts:

  1. Children reported bullying they might not have without the campaign

Several children reported having peers engaging in bullying behaviors in their schools or having been bullied themselves, who otherwise would not have come forward. During therapy sessions, kids were taught how to recognize and report bullying when they saw it. However, each participant signed a pledge against bullying, and a star-shaped cut-out covering the walls in the clinic’s office, a testament to the children’s commitment to being bright, friendly peers.

  1. The Dallas Mayor and City Council joined the pledge against bullying

Office manager, Stephen Betzen presented the pledge against bullying to the Dallas City Council on October 14th, and The Honorable Mike Rawlings, Mayor of Dallas; Monica Alonzo, Mayor Pro Tem; Erik Wilson, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem; and Scott Griggs, Adam Medrano, Casey Thomas II, Rickey Callahan, Tiffinni Young, Mark Clayton, Adam McGough, Sandy Greyson, and Jennifer Gates all signed this pledge, sending supportive, cooperative messages to the children about making a stance against bullying.

  1. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings is declaring a No Bullying in Schools Education Month

The clinic received notice that Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings will be issuing a proclamation declaring February 2016 to be “No Bullying in Schools Education Month,” in cooperation with the Dallas Independent School District.

“We are very happy with the success of our campaign and we are enthusiastic about reaching more families in the community with our anti-bullying message,” said Stephen Betzen, office manager for
Dallas Reading and Language Services. “We look forward to working with Dallas schools to open children’s eyes to the harmful effects of bullying to encourage more kids to become ‘stars’ in their communities by being accepting and caring of their peers without regard to differences between them.”

Dallas Reading and Language Services is a private pediatric speech therapy clinic located in the Winnetka Place building in the North Oak Cliff area of Dallas.

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Dallas Reading and Language Services is a provider of speech-language therapy and reading services to the Dallas community, employing licensed Speech-Language Pathologists and SLP Assistants.