Addressing Bullying Through Prevention and Connection

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies.

In this episode of School Safety Today, Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Dr. Melissa Mariani to explore school bullying prevention strategies, highlighting whole-school approaches, early intervention, and the power of positive climate in creating safer learning environments.

KEY POINTS:

1. Bullying erodes both physical and emotional safety, affecting school and community culture.
2. Prevention, intervention, and post-vention require a whole-school, systemic approach.
3. Positive climate, early warning signs, and supportive adult relationships are critical.

Melissa Mariani, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counselor Education, specializing in School Counseling. Dr. Mariani’s research and scholarship focus on student success, school climate, school counseling interventions, outcome research, school safety and crisis response, and collaboration between higher education and K-12 institutions. Throughout her career, Dr. Mariani has served as a Project Manager for three Elementary and Secondary School Counseling grants, where she played a pivotal role in assisting various districts in the development, implementation, and maintenance of comprehensive school counseling programs based on the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) National Model. Dr. Mariani regularly provides professional development and training to school staff on a wide range of topics. Dr. Mariani is a lead researcher and national trainer for the Student Success Skills curriculum (www.studentsuccessskills.com) and co-developer of SSS for SEL Success. She also co-authored the book Facilitating Evidence-Based, Data-Driven School Counseling: A Manual for Practice.