On Thursday, Sept. 16, several North Cobb High School students and staff participated in a one-day training in the PeaceWorks peer mediation program. PeaceWorks has been implemented in over 20,000 schools worldwide and provides the opportunity for high school students to mediate disputes between other students.

In partnership with the Success for All Students project, selected North Cobb High School students were trained in finding creative, impartial and constructive ways to settle conflicts at school and among peers before they escalate. North Cobb Principal Dr. Phillip Page said, “Peer mediation is a powerful tool in promoting pro-social behavior in the community and in the classroom. By reinforcing skills which are necessary to peaceably resolve conflict, we are also enhancing students’ minds to differing or opposing views.”

North Cobb High School is one of the six high schools which work directly with the Success for All Students project. Project manager Matt Yancey said, “One of the primary objectives of Success for All Students is to assist schools in creating the healthiest learning environment possible. Not only does an evidence-based program like “PeaceWorks” empower students, it also fine tunes social and emotional skills which ultimately lead to cooperative relationships within the classroom.”

For more information about PeaceWorks Peer Mediation, please visit www.peace-ed.org.