Fort Lauderdale (Davie), FL – Nova Southeastern University’s Fischler School of Education and Human Services and the International Bullying Prevention Association proudly host the 4th Annual International Bullying Prevention Conference November 5-8. Held for the first time in South Florida, this four day event will bring experts, educators and researchers together to provide the latest findings on bullying in schools, to share best practices in addressing bullying and to offer resources that promote a bully-free educational environment.

The conference, Best Practices in Bullying and School Violence Prevention will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. Interested participants are encouraged to register by October 24 to receive special conference rates.

"This conference is designed to provide an array of information that every member of the community can use,” said Meline Kevorkian, Ed.D., Associate Dean of Master's and Educational Specialist Programs at the Fischler School of Education and Human Services and a member of the International Bullying Prevention Association. “Whether you are a parent, an educator, a policy maker or social service provider, attendees will have the opportunity to be involved with the leaders in the field of bullying prevention, get access to best practices and the most current information on research and case studies on addressing all types of bullying.”

Research has indicated that bullying in schools is prevalent, unmanaged and has a direct impact on student quality of life and academic experiences.

The latest research findings reported by Kevorkian and other professors at Nova Southeastern University suggests that training is vital to successfully prepare educators in understanding and reducing bullying in our schools today. For more information on the survey, contact Lourdes Rodriguez-Barrera at 954-262-5309 or by email (rodrlour@nova.edu).

A unique highlight of the conference will be a free session for the community on November 6. The session will provide participants with information regarding “Stop Bullying Now!, a campaign developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration. The program will provide access to information that raises awareness about bullying, and identifies appropriate interventions for youth ages 9 through 13.

Featured speakers are Captain Stephanie Bryn, MPH, Director of Injury and Violence Prevention Programs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Susan Limber, Ph.D., Associate Director for the Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life at Clemson University; Jason Smith, Senior Vice President and Group Director of Widmeyer Communications, Inc.; and Brian Wachur, Senior Account Executive of Widmeyer Communications, Inc.

The November 6 session is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Health Professions Division Steele Auditorium on the main Davie campus of NSU. For more information on this free community workshop, please call 954-262-8500 or 954-262-5309.
For more information on the conference, please visit the website at www.fischlerschool.nova.edu/stopbullying.

About Fischler School of Education and Human Services: Serving more than 15,000 students in approximately 40 countries, Nova Southeastern University’s Fischler School of Education and Human Services is one of the largest schools of education at an accredited university in the United States. When we opened our doors more than 35 years ago, we shattered the barriers of traditional learning, causing a ripple effect that can still be felt today. Online, On-site, Or on our modern, 18-acre campus in North Miami Beach, Florida, our ideas, our approach, and our programs—found nowhere else in the nation—inspire our students to inspire the people around them to move the world.

About Nova Southeastern University: Situated on 300 beautiful acres in Davie, Florida, Nova Southeastern University is a dynamic fully accredited institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs of distinction from preschool through the professional and doctoral levels. NSU has more than 26,000 students and is the sixth largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally. The university awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields, including business, counseling, computer and information sciences, education, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, dentistry, various health professions, law, marine sciences, early childhood, psychology and other social sciences. For more information, visit www.nova.edu.

About the International Bullying Prevention Association: The International Bullying Prevention Association recognizes the need to create a safe learning environment, free from bullying behaviors, that nurtures the potential of all students. The mission of the International Bullying Prevention Association is to support and enhance quality research based bullying prevention principles and practices in order to achieve a safe school climate, healthy work environment, good citizenship and civic responsibility. Members/Trainers of the International Bullying Prevention Association act with conscientious effort to exemplify the highest ethical standards in providing and supporting sound research based bullying prevention training to accomplish this task.