Barnegat, NJ – Jennifer Blanchard, School Counselor and Anti-Bullying Specialist at Joseph T. Donahue Elementary School (JTDS), received the HIBster Anti-Bullying Software Counselor of the Year award. Barnegat Township School District (BTSD) administrators and fourth-grade student leaders of the JTDS’s No Place for Hate initiative, led by Blanchard, cheerfully surprised her with the award during a ceremony at the school on April 14.
Blanchard was recognized for making a powerful difference in the lives of students, families and staff by being committed to making school a better, safer, and more supportive place for all. She was nominated for the award by BTSD’s District Supervisor of Guidance Mary Cammarata.
“I feel very honored to be recognized with this award, and I am grateful to all the amazing staff at JTDS who help make our school a better place every day,” said Blanchard. “This award is not just a result of my hard work, but also a reflection of our staff and the passion we all share for our school.”
Blanchard is dedicated to ensuring every student at JTDS feels valued and continues to develop the school’s No Place for Hate initiative, a national program supported by the Anti-Defamation League. The student-led school climate improvement program aims at uniting the school community and standing up against bullying.
The program involves the entire school signing the No Place for Hate pledge, forming a committee of students and staff, and completing multiple activities throughout the school year that promote a positive school climate and bullying prevention. Blanchard composed a song for the initiative “Donahue is No Place for Hate,” which encourages students to stand up for one another and celebrate each other's differences.
“I believe the positive impact of this type of education is that it promotes the development of the whole child,” said Blanchard. “When children learn social emotional skills, they can effectively manage challenges, resolve conflicts, and regulate their emotions, which is the foundation for success in other areas of life. We will continue to bring our passion for helping children to the forefront and strive to make JTDS a safe, welcoming, successful space where all students can learn and grow together.”
Blanchard also teaches practices that align with JTDS’s behavior expectations, R.O.A.R, which stands for Respect, Ownership, Ambition, and Responsibility. Students receive “Tiger Tickets” for displaying these traits throughout the school week and can earn a chance to win a special prize every Friday. Blanchard encourages students to use “I” messages, too. "I" messages help students communicate effectively and work through conflicts peacefully.
This year, JTDS began presenting character education assemblies to help reinforce the character trait of the month such as respect, self-control, and empathy. Through these assemblies, students learned a breathing technique, “Bengal Breathing,” to help them stay calm. Blanchard and the JTDS staff remind students to “Take a Bengal Breath" when they feel overwhelmed, stressed, or frustrated.
“Ms. Blanchard truly goes above and beyond to support the students at JTDS,” said Samantha Burke, assistant principal at the school. “Through her partnership with the No Place for Hate initiative, she meets with selected students to brainstorm meaningful ways to prevent bullying and create a more welcoming school environment. In addition, Ms. Blanchard leads impactful lessons on bullying by bringing together third and fourth grade classes to define bullying and explore strategies for preventing it. She even wrote an original song, “Donahue is No Place for Hate,” which continues to echo through our halls as a joyful reminder of the inclusive community she helps foster every day.”
“We are proud of Ms. Blanchard for receiving this well-deserved award,” said Brian Latwis, Superintendent of Schools. “Her dedication and expertise make every member of our school community feel valued, seen and supported. She encourages kindness and leads by example.”
HIBster Anti-Bullying Software is a comprehensive anti-bullying management tool created by Educational Development Software, which serves more than 3,000 schools nationwide.
For more information on Barnegat Township School District, visit https://www.barnegatschools.com/.