Staff Development Training that Will Make a Difference

Tired of talking about standardized testing issues all of the time?...
Ready to take a different approach toward helping students?...

...how about focusing on the inner student? There is an equally important issue that educators need to confront because a severe crisis faces our youth. Children and teenagers are starving themselves in an effort to be thin. How can we expect to improve test scores if students are preoccupied with their body image? It’s time we all become more educated regarding this concern. The following two resources will help your staff facilitate an important, positive change on your campus.

Positive Body-Image Video:

“It’s OK to be You” will help teachers, specialists, parents, and teenagers confront and question our society’s unrealistic thinness standard. This video encourages young people to be accepting of different body types, to question societal ideals, and to think for themselves. “It’s OK to be You” is 30 minutes long and is appropriate for 5th-12th grade students.

Note: The video will be given free of charge to any school that signs up for a staff development presentation.

Staff Development Presentations:

(Presentations range anywhere between 1-4 hours in length)

Presentation Objectives:

• Examine causes of disordered eating habits/behaviors
• Analyze signs/symptoms of disordered eating habits/behaviors
• Promote self-awareness among staff
• Explore personal biases
• Teach guidelines for intervention
• Recommend preventative strategies
• Provide valuable resources
• Show “It’s OK to be You” and suggest classroom implementation

Denee Signorelli Schakow, MA, an educator for 11 years, has done extensive research in the field of eating disorders. She has spoken at universities and secondary schools, participated in conferences, collaborated with specialists, and is a member of the National Eating Disorders Association. Denee also established a positive body image group for students while teaching at Hyde Middle School in Cupertino, CA.

Denee can be contacted at (408) 848-0245 or [email protected].

• The information in this program is compatible with bullying interventions, self-esteem and self-assessment development programs, and a variety of other student-centered programs. TUPE and Title IV funds can also apply.