Tasha Mills-Davis Chief Human | Dekalb County School District
Tasha Mills-Davis Chief Human | Dekalb County School District
The DeKalb County School District has emphasized the importance of Safe Driving Awareness this month, offering a wealth of resources to support safe driving practices as well as to address critical issues such as bullying, cyber-safety, human trafficking, teen dating violence, and vaping.
Highlighting the significance of safe driving for teens, the School District has shared information on common pitfalls young drivers face. Teens aged 15 to 18 are reminded that "car crashes are a leading cause of death for people your age," often attributed to "alcohol, inconsistent seat belt use, speeding and distracted driving." The District endorses foundational habits, stating, "listen to your parents, learn and follow the rules and educate yourself."
Additionally, the district has provided resources to combat bullying in its various forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, and cyber. They stress that bullying "connotes an imbalance or perceived imbalance of power between the bully and the victim."
On cyber-safety, the district promotes awareness of online risks and encourages responsible engagement with social networks and apps through initiatives like #CyberSafeDeKalb. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, students are encouraged to pledge: "I Will Think Before I Post," "I Will Respect Other People Online," and "I Will Be Careful When Meeting Online Friends In Person."
Regarding human trafficking, the School District has shared a "Human Trafficking Prevention/Intervention Toolkit" to inform the public about the realities and risks associated with sex trafficking, which often involves minors. Various support organizations like Tapestri, Receiving Hope Center, and Frontline Response provide crisis amenities.
On teen dating violence, resources such as Love is Respect and Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence are shared to support victims and provide educational materials to the community.
Finally, the School District highlights the concerning rise in vaping among teenagers, stating that "one in four (26%) high school students reported ever using e-cigarettes." Resources and toolkits for addressing vaping are made available to schools and parents to help tackle this growing issue.
DeKalb County School District remains committed to equipping students and the broader community with information and resources aimed at addressing these significant challenges.
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