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Show " Gibbs and Hill make contribution The contributions of Janet Gibbs and Peggy Hill to Layton High School have been varied and extensive. exten-sive. In addition to their main assignments, Gibbs teaches and directs special education and Hill is a counselor. Both woman were instrumental in developing an impressive program pro-gram addressing drug and alcohol abuse problems of students. Their approach to substance abuse includes the following four programs: Student assistance training was ' provided initially to counselors 1 from every high school along with board members, law enforcement, mental health, community members and an adrninistrator from every high school. Gibbs and Hill organized the workshop and initiated in-itiated the request for the grant which funded that session. A peer support group is trained by Gibbs and has been effective in peers influencing recovery and integrating in-tegrating students back into school involvement. Members of this group have also gone into junior high schools, sharing their expertise and support District policy was strengthened through a committee Gibbs and Hill initiated which outlined consequences conse-quences for substance abuse and methods for intervention and support sup-port for students. The third workshop to train all staff members at Layton High school is in the planning stages. The effectiveness of this program is demonstrated in the staff s 90 percent per-cent attendance last year. It is deemed important that all staff understand their role in identifying abuse problems and getting students into helping circles, as well as giving giv-ing their support These two educators have worked work-ed with the FTA to help equip parents with skills of recognition, awareness and understanding of the help available. Presentations have been made by Gibbs and Hill at the past two state substance abuse conferences and to University of Utah students. These two outstanding profes sionals feel much progress has been accomplished. Teachers are seeking support for students much sooner. Responsibility and involvement levels have broadened substantially for everyone. Principal Paul Smith is proud of the accomplishments of Hill and Gibbs in addressing the complex and alarming problems of substance abuse. He also applauds their expertise exper-tise in other assignments. "Janet is outstanding in her daily work with special education. She is a fine role model, and I feel that she has one of the outstanding resource programs. The influence of Peggy's fine work is extensive with students and faculty in her counseling role. She is exceptional." He continues, ' 'These two women have established tremendous tremen-dous leadership in their substance abuse program, which is as extensive exten-sive as any in the state. Not only have they been innovative in organizing effective programs, but they have been active in obtaining funding." |