EudoraNews.com

Kansas Attorney General Stephen Six recognized members and organizers Wednesday of the DARE Plus program at Eudora West Elementary School.

Six praised Eudora High School senior Michelle Smith and school resource officer Ryan Healzer for their work with the program that paired students in third, fourth and fifth grade with mentors who are in high school.

The program, which is the only one of its kind in the state, has grown from 15 to about 50 students over the last year.

“We’ve had the DARE program that we’ve coordinated in the high schools, but this is the first program we figure that’s been done in Kansas to expand it to the third-, fourth- and fifth-grade level to get them ready for the middle school DARE program,” Six said. “It’s exciting that it starts here in Eudora.”

Six also said the work of Smith and Healzer has not only benefited the students in Eudora, but also students throughout Kansas because the program is beginning to take hold at other schools in the state.

Smith became aware of the Plus program, which stands for play and learn under supervision, in 2006 while attending a national conference as a member of the DARE American Youth Advisory Board.

After presenting the program to the Eudora board of education, she started a pilot program last year.

“She was the one who set it up with 15 students last year and through her work kept it going so it could get up to 50 students,” Six said. “So, it has tripled in size and I think shows what a great program it is.”

Though Smith and Healzer both were pleased to receive recognition for their work, they said seeing how the program has changed the lives of those involved was reward enough

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