DARE WORKS! SOCIETY OFFICIALLY HIRES NEW INSTRUCTOR

Grade 8 students in the Foothills School Division will soon be hearing a
timely reminder to resist peer pressure, stay away from illegal drugs and
bullying.

Members of the local DARE Works! Society are thrilled they are now able to
expand their educational program after receiving approval from DARE
International to hire an instructor through the Town of Okotoks bylaw
department.

'We are just delighted,' said Lori Czerwinski, DARE Works! executive
director. 'We have worked very hard and it has taken a long time to get to
this place.'

The society has been trying for two years to hire a second instructor,
Czerwinski explained. After being told by the RCMP that they did not have
enough resources to facilitate a part-time position DARE Works! turned to
the Town of Okotoks to partner in the hiring of an additional instructor to
help teach the bulk of the Grade 6 students.

After several failed attempts to get approval from the Solicitor General's
office for a special constable, who would act primarily as the DARE
instructor, the society turned to DARE International for support.

The appointment will be reviewed by DARE International after one year.

DARE Works! will pay for the bylaw officer's salary through fundraising,
corporate sponsorship and private donations, unlike the current director's
position which is funded by partnerships with local communities such as
Black Diamond, Turner Valley, the MD of Foothills, High River and Okotoks.

DARE Works! introduced their new instructor, Terry Olfert, at a press
conference held last Thursday at the Okotoks RCMP detachment.

Olfert was chosen because of his 10 years experience as an RCMP officer and
his current teaching experience.

Olfert obtained his teaching certificate while working for the RCMP and is
currently working part-time as an Education Plus teacher in High River.

Olfert said he feels ready to assume the part-time position teaching the
DARE curriculum to Grade 6 students.

'(The DARE instructor position) will be an easy fit as a former RCMP and
using my classroom management skills,' he explained.

Having students commit the DARE curriculum to memory is Olfert's number one
priority.

'My focus is to make the students remember,' he explained. 'For example I
will be increasing the amount of reflective time. If you reflect on what
you are feeling as well as what you are learning then the teaching becomes
tagged with the emotions.'

With a second instructor present DARE Works! director Cst. Geoff Carpenter
can begin teaching a follow-up class with Grade 8 students. Previously
Carpenter was teaching the Grade 6 curriculum full-time. He is looking
forward to teaching the same kids he taught several years ago and
refreshing their memories.

'The first couple of days (of the Grade 8 DARE curriculum) is review but
then the focus is different,' Carpenter explained. 'We look at making a
whole person. The students are at a different maturity and are able to take
in more.'

Olfert will be receiving training over the next couple of weeks allowing
Carpenter to begin teaching the Grade 8 curriculum at Okotoks Junior High
School in January and will move on to as many other schools as possible
during the rest of the school year.