Steve’s Biography – Bully Prevention Expert

Bully Prevention and Violence Prevention Training and Workshop Specialist

I have been providing bully prevention and violence prevention training and workshops to students, school staff and parents since 1999.  I am a specialist in student discipline, bullying and violence prevention, behavior management and effective communication styles. During my dynamic workshops, I use my theatrical experience to role-play serious realities such as being bullied, being the subject of rumors or being shunned by cliques.

I am an expert in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, offering easy to understand seminars to teachers, administrators and attorneys.  I am co-founder (retired) of Balance Educational Services, LLC.

I have also worked:

• to prevent domestic abuse as the Youth and Community Educator with Project Against Violent Encounters of Bennington County, VT (www.PAVEBennington.org)
• as Assistant Direct Services Associate and Food Program Coordinator with the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont in Bennington, VT (www.aidsprojectsouthernvermont.org) and as the Director of Northstar Community alliance where I worked to prevent and reduce substance abuse among youth
• as a facilitator with FATHERTIME and Caring Dads (parenting programs)
•  as a residential counselor teaching social and vocational skills to people with developmental disabilities in Washington State
• as a trained mediator

I was born, raised and educated in and around New York City.  After graduating from Hofstra University in 1985 with a BFA, my German Shepherd, Dixie, and I walked 3000 miles from New Orleans to Washington State.  After arriving in Washington, I worked with people with developmental disabilities.  During my 9 years there, I authored Washington WALKABOUT, which examines the experiences of Reggie Feckley, a man with developmental disabilities as he, Dixie and I walked 1,300 miles around the state of Washington, promoting the capabilities of people with disabilities. I then moved to to Vermont for 21 years.  Coming full circle, I now live in New York, New York again.