Educators to Discuss Third Leading Killer of Young People Feb. 2
7th Annual Teen Suicide Prevention Symposium to Focus on Suicide & Bullying

WACO, Texas – The Junior League of Waco and Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 will present the 7th Annual Teen Suicide Prevention Symposium on February 2 to discuss “Bullycide,” a new term for how bullying in schools affects the number of students engaging in suicidal behavior. Speakers involved in bullying and suicide prevention will present at the symposium.

Allen Beane, Ph.D., has more than 37 years of experience in education and is known as an expert in the area of bullying. His own son’s experience with bullying contributed to his early death at age 23, inspiring Beane to help end the pain and violence of bullying. He will speak on “The Bully Free Program” he developed, which has been adopted by school districts throughout the country.

Michael Fowlin, Ph.D., is an actor, psychologist and poet who combines his talents to raise awareness about bullying and suicide prevention through his one man show “I Am Not The Enemy.” He will introduce participants “to the voices of those who been chastised, victimized, or ostracized by larger segments of society,” according to his website.

Missy Wall, MSW, M.Div., is the director of the Teen CONTACT program, affiliated with the CONTACT Crisis Hotline, which provides a free 24-hour help line in the Dallas metroplex area to confidentially and non-judgmentally assist teens in the midst of crisis or conflict situations. Wall will speak about ‘bullycide’ and discuss what she calls, “the new face of bullying boys and mean girls.”

The symposium will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., February 2, at ESC Region 12, 2101 W. Loop 340 in Waco. For more information or to register for this session, please contact Marilyn Booth at 254.297.1135 or mbooth@esc12.net, or use our online registration system.

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About ESC Region 12
One of 20 regional education service centers statewide, Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 is dedicated to serving school districts, charter schools and area private/parochial schools in improving student performance. ESC Region 12 partners with school districts to deliver services and solutions to educators so they may help all children be successful.

Based in Waco, with satellite offices in Corsicana, Hamilton, Nolanville and Teague, ESC Region 12’s service area includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, McLennan, Mills and Navarro Counties.