Improving School Safety and School Climate in the St. Paul School Project

The Aleut Community of St. Paul Island will implement the Improving School Safety and School Climate in the St. Paul School project, in St. Paul Island, Alaska. The intended beneficiaries of this project are 56 predominantly Alaska Native K-12 students in St. Paul school as well as their families, and the St. Paul Island community as a whole. The purpose of this project is to prevent and reduce school violence in St. Paul school, thereby increasing school safety and creating a positive school environment. Project activities include developing a school climate sustainability plan that includes common school language and values; developing and implementing a culturally relevant and place-based Social Emotional Learning curriculum; training the St. Paul School Resource Officer (SRO) in conflict de-escalation, violence prevention, and trauma-informed approaches; enhancing SRO communication with students, parents/guardians, teachers, and other stakeholders; and building positive relationships between St. Paul school educators, staff, students and families. Expected outcomes include creation of a sustainable climate that promotes student well-being, academic success, positive relationships, and a sense of belonging; increase in students' emotional regulation and decrease in impulsive behaviors and aggression; development of social skills such as empathy, communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution, which contribute to a positive school climate and reduce the likelihood of conflicts escalating to violence; more inclusive and compassionate school environment with reduced instances of bullying and discrimination that contribute to violence; reduction in violent incidents at school; improved relationships between SRO and St. Paul school students, parents/guardians, teachers, and other stakeholders; improved communication between the St. Paul school educators and staff with students and their families; more inclusive and compassionate school environment; and reducing instances of bullying and discrimination that contribute to violence.