Broken Arrow Public Schools works on plan to fight bullying

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. - School may be out for summer vacation but Broken Arrow Public Schools is already hard at work on a plan to fight bullying and violence.

It's called Rachel's Challenge, a campaign for kindness.

Rachel's Challenge is named for Rachel Scott, the first person killed in the Columbine High School shootings. Her message of kindness is still alive thanks to her family.
And it's created a chain reaction in communities across the country.

Country Lane Elementary School principal Jamie Milligan thinks kindess to others has become an afterthought these days.
She hopes Rachel's Challenge will help students and teachers get back on track.

"I think it's going to have everyone, and not just students, think about what we do every day, to impact another person. And it's more of a pay it forward. You're kind to someone, so they're kind to someone else," Milligan said.

It teaches students that a simple act of kindness can go far.

"You have to get to a child's heart so that you can teach them. And not only that, you want them to do that with each other," Milligan said.

The program is in its planning stages. It targets more than bullying, seeking to change the culture inside schools.

"We want these kids to go out and conquer the world. But to do that, they have to have those character traits built within them so they know how to treat each other," Milligan said.

Assistant superintendent Amy Fichner says it's about changing your mindset.

"Because the root of bullying is a lack of empathy for the person. So Rachel's Challenge helps us frame in our mind, what does it feel like from the other perspective," she said.

She's asking the community if it's up for the challenge.

"We can have that spark, of 'you know, we can take on this challenge.' And we can change the culture of the people we talk with every day," Fichner said.

Rachel's Challenge will officially begin at the back to school kick off in August. The program has already been introduced at other school districts like Muskogee and Skiatook.