The Respect Center
The Respect Center is part of a strength-based, school-wide strategy for creating and sustaining a positive, nurturing school climate, based on respectful relationships between teachers and students, teachers and teachers, and students and students. This strategy acknowledges that conflicts of all kinds occur in schools and is based on a thoughtful set of approaches to teaching skills, resolving conflicts, and solving problems.
The Respect Center provides a method for connecting with students, building relationships, and communicating to them that they belong in their school. It is a structured program that addresses multiple issues to assist students in getting back to class faster and staying there. A Mentor from PASSWORD Community Mentoring staffs each Respect Center on a full-time basis.
The primary goal of the Respect Center is to keep students actively engaged in their classrooms so that they benefit from instructional time. A secondary goal is to provide skill building opportunities for children to learn appropriate social skills, coping skills, and problem solving skills. Close communication between the Respect Center Mentor, school staff, and parent of each child provides opportunities for continued practice and reinforcement of learned skills.
