News

Thibodeaux is top DARE educator

Pahrump Valley Times - May 2009

Students from Mary Thibodeaux's and Gail Gillard's fifth-grade classes at Tonopah Middle School share in the celebration as DARE Officer Doug Farinholt presents Thibodeaux with the plaque honoring her as DARE Educator of the Year in Nevada. At left are Farinholt and Thibodeaux; at far right, Gillard.

TONOPAH -- Tonopah Middle School fifth-grade teacher Mary Thibodeaux has been selected DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance and Education) Educator of the Year in Nevada.

Dep. Doug Farinholt, of the Nye County Sheriff's Office, nominated Thibodeaux for the award based upon her work with the program since 2002.

The criteria for nominating an educator for the award included promoting a strong anti-drug message; promoting positive non-drug activities that are supportive of the community; being active within the school in promoting the above mentioned activities; looking for ways to support the children in their quest for positive alternative activities which do not involve drugs, violence, negative peer pressure, or bullying; and treating the children with care consideration and kindness.

Farinholt said there was never any doubt when he nominated Thibodeaux for the award because, as he put it, "She does all this and much more.

Support of the D.A.R.E. program even extends to her activities outside the school, lending a sympathetic ear and encouragement. Her influence and counsel in the community are often sought and greatly appreciated.

"This year Thibodeaux organized an anti-bullying campaign in Tonopah Middle School. The 'Stood Up' program helped make others aware that there was a situation regarding bullying. She saw the need, and as is her nature, came up with a solution and took action."

Farinholt said, "She continues to be a respected member of the school and community and has proven to be a valued member and exceptional supporter of team DARE. She is well deserving of the title Teacher/Educator of the Year."

When asked why she feels the DARE program is so important, Thibodeaux said, "We as educators wear a lot more hats now than we did in years past. We have a greater responsibility to our students, not just as teachers of school curriculum but in social areas as well."

Thibodeaux said there is much more pressure on young people than used to be the case. "Peer pressure about smoking, drinking, drugs, and bullying starts at a much younger age than you would expect. There are children aged 10, and maybe some even younger, who have already started to smoke.

"I believe the fact this is such a sedentary generation only adds to the problem. So many young people now-a-days spend countless time in front of the computer instead of time with their family or friends in outside activities. It's not unusual to hear a student talk about spending their entire weekend playing computer games or chatting on line."

Asked what led her to start the "Stood Up" program, Thibodeaux explained, "Bullying is very hard to recognize and overcome. One of the reasons for this is bullying can be extremely subtle."

Thibodeaux continued, "I truly believe that nothing else can happen, as far as learning and growing, without a safe environment in school."

To emphasize the importance of the "Stood Up" program, Farinholt supplied the statistic that 186,000 children miss school every day in the United States due to bullying. Bullying has also been named as the underlying cause of many of the recent school shootings in our country.

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