“Student Centered Approaches to Improving School Climate On and Offline” was the topic of a statewide school climate conference co-sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Connecticut Association of Schools at Newington High School on Dec. 11.

More than 140 students and 40 advisors representing more than 20 schools from across Connecticut attended the conference, which opened with a student panel sharing ways in which bullying has affected their lives and discussing issues that need to be addressed at their respective schools.

Eva Vega-Olds, an expert on bullying and ADL’s national director of research and communication, was keynote speaker. She emphasized ways in which students can strategically use social media to improve the climate at their school. Using the hashtag #amplifyrespect, student tweets from the conference included: “Today I learned that I’m not alone. And that I’m not the only one that wants to make a difference in my school community” and “We need to create equality for all human beings no matter your gender, race, age or sexuality.”

“We were thrilled to see so many students attend the conference,” said Michelle Pincince, conference co-organizer and director of ADL Connecticut’s A World of Difference Institute. “Our hope is that every student took at least one idea back to their school to implement. One of the messages we wanted the students to take away from the experience is that they hold the power to create positive change in their school community.”

CAP: (l to r) Student panelist Danny Reid, ADL’s Michelle Pincince, student panelist Rufino Medina, and ADL trainer Diane Drakes. Photo courtesy of the Connecticut Association of Schools.