Courtney Richie: Helping Kids Stand Up To Bullying

In The Spotlight

By Suzanne Cassidy

scassidy@lnpnews.com

A few years ago, Courtney Richie decided something needed to bedone to challenge the meanness she was seeing in some students.

So Richie, a Spanish teacher at Hempfield High School, launchedan anti-bullying club called The Right Way, named in honor of thelate Jeff Way, a beloved Hempfield teacher who died in 2007.

The Right Way is part of Hempfield High School's Anchor Club, aservice group. It works closely with Aevidum, the high school'ssuicide-prevention club.

Last month, The Right Way Club held its first "Go Pink Day."

Richie was inspired by a campaign that took root in Nova Scotiawhen two 12th-grade boys saw a ninth-grade boy being bullied becausehe had worn a pink shirt to school. The older boys bought 50 pink T-shirts at a discount store, urged their fellow students to wearpink, and turned their school into a sea of pink.

"For them, it wasn't a big deal. It wasn't a hard decision,"Richie said. "One small act can really change somebody's life."

"Pink Shirt Day" took off, spreading to schools across Canada -and to Hempfield, where April 15 was celebrated as "Go Pink Day."

Hempfield's The Right Way club sold 3,500 pink bracelets for aquarter apiece so kids could wear something pink without having tospend a lot of money. Kids who bought bracelets pledged to stand upagainst bullying.

Some coaches bought bracelets for their entire sports teams. Boysand girls alike purchased the bracelets - and many continue to wearthem. "The response was amazing," Richie said.

"Next year, I would love for it to be districtwide," she said."Eventually, I would like for it to be a countywide thing."

Bullying today is more insidious than in the past. "We've got totake control of it, and just really put a stop to it," Richie said.

Age: 30

Hometown: I was born in Chambersburg, and lived there until age8; I have lived in Lititz since 1988.

Family: Husband Dave and daughter, Leah, age 2 1/2.

Education: Graduated from Warwick High School in 1998; receivedBachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Lebanon Valley College in2002 and Master of Education in teaching and curriculum from PennState University in 2007.

Why I became a teacher: I wanted to share my love of, and passionfor, the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. I wanted to inspirestudents and make a difference in their lives, as some of myteachers did for me.

The best advice I ever got: Always do your best and challengeyourself. That way you will never be left wondering what more youcould have accomplished.

The qualities I admire in other people: Honesty, compassion,being hardworking.

My favorite place in the world: Spain (Salamanca, Barcelona andSevilla) or anywhere with my family.

My favorite book: "To Kill a Mockingbird."

My favorite music: Bon Jovi (I am a child of the '80s and '90s).

What makes me happy: Watching my daughter grow and change. ...Each stage seems to be more fun, but time goes way too fast. Thereis nothing better than the sound of a little child laughing.

What I find worrying: I worry about what issues my daughter (andany future children) will have to deal with in school and insociety. I worry that I won't have an impact on my students' lives.

What is most important to me: My family. ... I think my parentalneed to protect my own child transfers over to my job. Protectingand helping my students are also very important to me. I thinkthat's why I am so passionate about ending the bullying epidemic.

Why I feel so strongly about stopping bullying: I can't standseeing reports of children committing suicide because they werebullied constantly. No one should have to feel like that is thesolution. ... Children should not have to worry about being bulliedat school (and now at home, with cyberbullying).

A favorite quote: "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. Adream you dream together is a reality." (John Lennon).

The most effective way to stop bullying: We need to be willing tostand up for what we believe, and for what we know is right. Weshould not be afraid to defend and protect others if they are beingharmed in some way.

What I wish students would understand: I want them to understandthat their actions impact themselves, but they also impact othersaround them, for the good or the bad.

What I want for my students, and for students everywhere: I wantthem to feel self-worth and self-confidence. I want them to feelthat school is a safe place where there are a lot of people who careabout them and want to help them.

What I hope the anti-bullying efforts accomplish: I want bullyingto be in the forefront of everyone's mind. ... I want (students) tostop and think before sending a mean text message, posting a meanmessage on the Internet, or spreading a rumor. It only takes a fewto start breaking the chain and to make a difference.