The Future is Now: Students Using Technology to Expand Peer Mediation

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Dr. Cynthia Morton has worked in the field of education for over 26 years as a teacher, school counselor, peer mediation coordinator, peer educator, and virtual learning specialist.  For the last eight years, Dr. Morton has trained peer mediation coordinators and students in the Standards Based Peer Mediation Model created by the Association of Conflict Resolution. In addition to her work as an educator, Dr. Morton has presented at several academic conferences. In 2012, Dr. Morton was invited to become a trainer of conflict resolution education for educators by Dr. Tricia Jones of Temple University. Dr. Morton belongs to several professional organizations and current board member of the National Association of Peer Program Professionals. She holds several professional licenses and certifications in the area of counseling, trauma and crisis, mediation, and Teacher Support Specialist.Currently, Dr. Morton serves as the Virtual Support Learning Specialist for Rockdale Virtual School where she coordinates the Rockdale County Peer Mediation and Peer Helper Program.

Kristen Woodward is the Conflict Resolution and Mentoring Specialist for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in Fairfax County, Virginia. She has over 10 years’ experience teaching conflict resolution skills and processes in k-12 and higher education settings. She holds a Master’s of Science from the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University and she is a certified mediator by the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Karen DeVoogd is an experienced lecturer at California State University Fresno, working with teacher candidates gaining their post-baccalaureate, multiple subject teaching credentials, in a program called CalStateTEACH.    She has been an instructor in this program for 19 years working with diverse student populations in Title One schools in the Central Valley of California.   She taught elementary-aged and included special-needs students for 11 years in Michigan and Texas, prior to coming to California.   She also coordinated school-based peer mediation programs and facilitated staff development in conflict resolution with curriculum integration in Michigan. Ms. DeVoogd is the past director of the Mediator Mentors program, working with Dr. Pam Lane Garon at CSU Fresno has reacquainted her with the field of conflict resolution and peer mediation.   She has conducted trainings for teachers, administrators, counselors and other professionals in conflict resolution skills. Karen is also a community mediator, trained in VORP protocol (Victim Offender Reconciliation Program).  She is a trainer with CRETE (Conflict Resolution Education in Teacher Education), under the guidance of Dr. Tricia Jones at Temple University.   This training involves working with current and future teachers and administrators, in the application of conflict resolution theory and best practice into classroom instruction.