Award-Winning WHRHS Social Studies Teachers Featured in Magazine

This month’s edition of Review, a monthly magazine published by the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) features two amazing Watchung Hills teachers. The two-page spread details the work of Mary Sok and Jamie Lott-Jones, social studies colleagues who are collaborating on a series of interrelated and ongoing events, speakers and interdisciplinary projects designed to challenge WHRHS students to make a difference in their school and beyond.

Among Sok and Lott-Jone’s many projects, one was highlighted in particular in the article: the creation of a video to be used in anti-bullying campaigns. In fact, Watchung Hills was chosen by the video production company, The Working Group, an Oakland-based not-for-profit media company that does outreach and organizes efforts in the areas of workplace issues, race and diversity. The company is responsible for the “Not in Our Town” PBS series and funded the WHRHS video in order to prevent bias and hate crimes through education and public awareness.

Watchung Hills was selected for its outstanding programs dedicated to fostering tolerance and raising students’ consciousness about diversity, including the Social Studies Department’s adoption of the “Facing History and Ourselves” initiative which aims to embed concepts of diverse identities and individual choices into curriculum and history lessons.

The video company came to WHRHS to film a social studies class co-taught by Ms. Sok and Ms. Lott-Jones. The teachers skillfully wove concepts of “We and They”, “Bystanders and Upstanders” and individual choice into the lesson while leading a student-focused discussion about cyber-bullying. The students openly shared their own experiences online, revealing times when they felt targeted or were misinterpreted or witnessed harmful behavior while using social media. After listening to students express a fear of retaliation if they stood up for someone, Sok and Lott-Jones presented the class with a challenge – what can you personally do to make a difference in your school?

Students involved in the initiative have gone on to draft a mission statement toether with an action plan to foster diversity and tolerance at Watchung Hills. Cooperative projects with the Art Department were launched and the resulting artwork is on display in the school and highlighted in the video that was created.

Jamie Lott-Jones and Mary Sok serve on a nationwide panel that is developing the framework for new academic curriculum aimed at combating what is known as HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying). Moreover, other anti-bullying projects and activities already exist and are being developed at Watchung Hills through inter-departmental cooperation.

Lott-Jones and Sok are widely recognized for their outstanding efforts and were recently awarded the Aaron Flanzbaum 21^st-Century Democratic Heritage Award, a prestigious honor given to one high school in the state by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators and the Anti-Defamation League.

Watchung Hills is an exceptional school where a shared vision by teachers, administrators and students works to create a caring and accepting environment for all; this would not be possible without the guidance and commitment of dedicated teachers like Mary Sok and Jamie Lott-Jones. The Watchung Hills Regional Education Association is proud to recognize these wonderful educators and the way they go above and beyond for students every day, in school and out.

To view the video-taped anti-bullying lesson recorded at WHRHS, go to:

www.niot.org/nios-video/students-take-cyberbullying