The document summarizes a peer mediation program piloted at a high school to address conflicts between students. Student leaders were trained to resolve disputes among their peers. The program's effectiveness was evaluated based on its impact on student involvement and the number of office discipline referrals. Data showed that 50% of students referred to mediation had not received subsequent disciplinary referrals, and all referred students felt positively about the mediation process. The document recommends expanding training on the program and student selection process to increase its impact.
3. The school community wanted to emphasize two foundational beliefs
found within our vision statement.
SNHS must create and a safe and orderly school environment in which students
are free from mental or physical duress.
SNHS must provide opportunities to develop and nurture the growth of students
as social beings in addition to the intellectual growth and development of
students.
The idea to develop a peer mediation program was born. In this pilot
program, student leaders were trained to resolve student conflicts
amongst their peers.
The evaluation of the program was to measure the effectiveness of the
program based on the impact of student involvement and leadership in
the school and the reduction of office discipline referrals (ODRs).
In this inaugural year, students from the Student CouncilAdvisory
committee were asked if they wanted to participate by the
administration and guidance counselors. The students who volunteered
were trained and became our peer mediators.
5. There were several evaluation questions to measure the
impact of the peer mediation program. Here are a few
of the questions used:
What types of situations were sent to the peer
mediators?
How often did these situations occur?
How do the students referred to peer mediators relate
to those with discipline referrals?
In the school environment, what effect has the
implementation of peer mediation had on student
involvement?
How many students who were peer mediated acquired
an ODR after the intervention?
6. Data used to collect this data came from various
sources:
Monthly ODR reports
Mediation Logs/Notebook
Student Surveys
7. Out of 20 mediation sessions conducted during the evaluation period, 10 of those
were referred and completed through the peer mediation program. Here is the
breakdown of that information.
9. The most meaningful data to move forward came from the
student feedback on the program and the follow-up review of
ODR data on the referred students.
All referred students responded positively about going through
the peer mediation process.
50% of referred students admitted to being hesitant or nervous
before going through the peer mediation program.
50% of referred students have not received another ODR for any
reason.
100% of referred students have not received a referral related to
the mediation incident.
In random polling school-wide polling, most had very little to no
knowledge about the peer mediation program.
Counselor hesitancy to refer students to the peer mediation
program
Traditionally a counselor role
10. I believe the peer mediation is a step in the right direction towards
accomplishing the mission and vision. I recommend the following
suggestions based on my evaluation of the program:
Staff development on the peer mediation program
Referral process
Expectations of peer mediators
Expectations of referred students
Review the peer mediation selection process
Open up to other student leader groups
Staff Recommendations
Continue using seniors, juniors, and sophomores as mediators. Freshman
can begin the program as recorders/observers.
Student education on the peer mediation program during handbook review
sessions
Refine what types of situations can be referred to the peer mediation
program
TRY IT!
11. Very impressed with the professionalism of the peer
mediators involved in the program.
Provide the opportunity for students to grow and they
may surprise you.
This program can be culture-specific.
Through the evaluation process ask:
What do I want to know?
Data
Why is this information meaningful to the evaluation?
Rationale
How can I acquire that information?
Sources