EudoraNews.com

Kansas Attorney General Stephen Six on May 7 recognized members and organizers 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 third-, fourth- and fifth-graders with high school mentors.

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 with the help of West Principal Jan Irby.

“She (Michelle) 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.”

This year, the program flourished with the help of 12 Eudora High School student mentors, West Elementary teacher Chris Lounsbury and Healzer

Kansas DARE Coordinator Jerry Tenbrink said the relationships formed between the high school mentors and the elementary students were the most enjoyable part of the program, but everyone involved did a great job.

“Communities that invest in building relationships like that are very progressive and ahead of the curve,” he said. “It’s been really great to watch all of the kids enjoy it. The fact that it was the first program of it’s kind in the state speaks highly of these people because it takes a tremendous amount of work.”

Tenbrink said whether or not other communities in the state take part in the program depends on how much time they can give.

“It takes an awful lot of effort, so we’ll see if there are DARE officers who have the energy that officer Healzer has,” he said.

Irby said she hopes next year the program, which ran for two months, could be done twice next year.

Smith will attend Kansas University next fall and plans on majoring in journalism with a minor in Spanish.

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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