Jefferson Middle School students were recently trained in how to conduct peer mediation sessions with Peaceful Schools, a Syracuse organization which helps to train students in restorative practices.

At Jefferson Middle School, conflict resolution is taking on a new, student-centered approach through peer mediation.

Led by school counselors Crystal Case and Kate Cusimano, who recently became Jamestown Public Schools’ coordinator pupil personnel services, 17 mediators and advisors have already gone through a four-day mediation training with Peaceful Schools.

“We have met as a group and developed a referral process and Google form for students to use as well as created an informative promotional video for the Jefferson announcements,” said Cusimano. “This same video will also be shared during an upcoming faculty meeting so that all of the Jefferson community can support this mission.”

The selection process for mediators was thorough and inclusive. Casel and Cusimano presented the opportunity to all students. Those interested submitted an essay and were asked to have a teacher recommendation.

“We then reviewed all applications as well as attendance, behavior, and grades to narrow our applicant pool,” Cusimano said. “From there, students were scheduled for a formal interview as the final piece of the application process. This process resulted in 17 students, spanning all four grade levels, being selected as peer mediators.”

Although the program is still in its infancy, Cusimano and the student mediators are eager to begin.

“We are very excited to move forward with our promotional materials and begin mediations,” she said. “We, along with our peer mediators, are very confident that we will see a positive impact on our school community.”

Cusimano believes peer mediation can provide students with lifelong skills.

“Peer mediation will be extremely impactful with our students as they learn and develop the skills necessary to talk through conflicts and determine appropriate steps to resolve those conflicts,” she said. “It will afford students autonomy and give them a sense of ownership over outcomes, while giving them the tools to improve communication and take perspective. This will lead to increased common ground, which is invaluable in improving our school culture.”

Looking to the future, Cusimano is optimistic about the program’s influence.

“Although we are early in developing the peer mediation program here at Jefferson, we can already envision the impact it will have on our school environment,” she said. “Watching our selected peer mediators go through the training process and participating in those four days with them really solidified our firm belief that peer mediation will truly make a difference as we prepare our middle school students for high school and beyond.”