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Kim Voth
Co-Coordinator
316.973.7264
Responsibilities
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Personal/Social Counselor
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Conflicts
- Peer Mediation
- Harassment/Bullying
- Family Issues and Conflicts
- Drug/Alcohol concerns and referrals to community agencies
- Emotional/Psychological Issues:
- Depression
- Suicide
- Anger
- Self Injury
- Pregnancy
- Gang Issues
- Relationship Issues
- Upward Bound -- College Prep Program at WSU for 10th and 11th graders.
- ESOL
I enjoy meeting with parents, so please call me if you would like to discuss your concerns with your student.
Peer Mediation
Wichita High School East has had a peer mediation program in place for the past three years. Kim Voth, personal/social counselor, trains the peer mediators during the summer so they are available to students the first day of school.
Peer mediators are selected based on their leadership skills and interpersonal skills. The mediators are available in the counseling office every hour to work with students. Some of the mediators are bilingual and speak Spanish.
The peer mediators will introduce themselves to the freshman students early in the year, and explain how they can help them resolve problems and conflicts during the school year.
If a student is experiencing a conflict with another student, the peer mediator will call in the students involved and share that a referral has been made concerning the two students. The mediator explains ground rules to the students, ex.: no name calling, use “I” statements, no interrupting, no physical contact, no shouting…..
The mediator then listens to both sides of the student’s story, and attempts to get the students to listen and communicate with each other in hopes of resolving the conflict. Sometimes this is a 15 minute process, and sometimes it takes longer. In most instances, the mediator is able to resolve the issue, and both students leave feeling empowered, and much less anxious and angry. Students are taught how to listen and how to express their feelings. The mediator’s goal is to help students learn that most problems can be resolved through problem solving and communication.
“Peer mediation has been a very valuable tool for the administration,” stated assistant principal Matthew Carroll. “It has provided a means for students to work out conflicts prior to the behaviors escalating into a suspendable offense.”
Students are referred to mediation in several different ways. The most common referral is when a student asks for help themselves and sign up for mediation. Students will also come in and refer friends that they think need help. Teachers will often make referrals when they notice a problem or tension between students. Administrators also refer students to mediation in hopes of resolving conflicts in a positive way rather than the students ending up in a fight or receiving a consequence such as a suspension. Parents also call and share concerns. If as a parent, you feel like your child is being harassed or bullied, it is important to make the school aware of your concern. You may contact Kim Voth at 973-7264.
Since the peer mediation program has been put in place, the number of overall suspensions and fights has dropped the past three years at East High School.
Links
Here are some additional links for students and parents (also available on the Useful Sites page):
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