Speaker tackles tough issues at North
At the end of Rollen Smith’s discussion with the students of North Elementary, Principal Tracy Kaschak thanked Smith for the powerful discussion he shared with her students. .
Rollen Smith shared many of his experiences as director of programming at the Juvenile Justice Center of Mahoning County in a talk at North Elementary on May 5.
Neighbors | Sarah Foor.Rollen Smith (left), director of programming at the Juvenile Justice Center of Mahoning County, brought up North student Daniel Dellick (right) to talk with him about being part of a team or family as a way to combat bullying.
By SARAH FOOR
As a counselor and director of programming at Joyce Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) in Youngstown, Rollen Smith has met hundreds of troubled children and teens since he began his post in 1983.
Smith leaned on that experience during a presentation at North Elementary on May 6, tackling tough issues and discussing the impact of bullying with the school’s third- and fourth-graders.
Smith was invited to speak at the school by principal Tracy Kaschak. North students tour the JJC facility each spring and meet Smith, and Kaschak found Smith to be a powerful and influential speaker.
“He has a resounding, deep voice that commands a room and he truly has seen it all. I see my students engaging in what they think is ‘innocent’ bullying, but as a counselor at JJC, Mr. Smith has seen the worst-case scenario of what those actions turn into,” Kaschak said of her guest.
In his presentation, Smith talked about ending the cycle of bullying by respecting others. Smith didn’t shy away from explaining the issues that arise from bullying that he sees at JCC, including depression or self-harm.
Smith discussed in-depth the power of choice.
“You can have a plan in your mind for your every day, but you can’t anticipate the obstacles that you might face along the way. When you have good values and a support system, you can make the right choices that will help you overcome anything,” Smith related to the students.
After his presentation, Kaschak thanked Smith for his time, and observed that her students really opened up to him.
“I’m glad,” Smith shared of his impact. “Bullying unfortunately happens in every community. It’s my passion to help kids break the cycle and I think all ages can benefit from these lessons.”