MARTINEZ — Surrounded by supporters, transgender teen Jewlyes Gutierrez appeared happy after a juvenile court judge on Thursday ordered her to participate in a conflict resolution program known as restorative justice to deal with an assault charge.

“It’s like conflict resolution to talk it out,” the 16-year-old Hercules High student told her family and representatives from the Transgender Law Center and RYSE Center. “Then, after it is over, (the charge) will hopefully be dismissed.”

Gutierrez attracted national attention after her older sister last month posted a petition on Change.org asking the Contra Costa County district attorney to drop battery charges filed against Gutierrez after a fight broke out on campus in November between her and three girls, whom she said had been taunting her. Although Gutierrez reported the bullying to an administrator at least a day before the fight, she said the perpetrator was not punished and the harassment continued and escalated into a physical confrontation.

By early Thursday afternoon, the online petition had been signed by nearly 201,000 people across the country. Gutierrez expressed thanks to the organizations that came to her defense, as well as to the hundreds of thousands of people who signed the petition, rallying behind her cause.

She said she hoped the incident and the attention it has brought to the issue of bullying will help educate the public and make a difference. Her mother, Debra Gutierrez, said she anticipates the charges will be dropped at her daughter’s next court hearing May 1.

“At this time,” she said, with a tinge of disappointment, “it’s not been dismissed.” The National Council on Crime and Delinquency will facilitate the discussions between the students involved in the fight, said deputy public defender Kaylie Simon, who is representing Gutierrez. Kanwarpal Dhaliwal, community health director for the RYSE Center in Richmond, also offered assistance from her agency, if needed.

“Just know that we’re here with anything you need for follow up,” she told Gutierrez and Simon.

In a joint news release, the Transgender Law Center and RYSE Center said a recent nationwide study showed 89 percent of transgender youths reported having been harassed at school within the previous year. Another study showed that 51 percent of transgender students who were harassed at school had later attempted suicide.

“Jewlyes’ honesty, courage, and commitment to reconnecting and healing with her peers is a compelling and inspiring call for RYSE and our partners to continue to shed light on and shift the current conditions of unwelcoming and unsafe school environments that cause harm for all students, including transgender youth and youth of color,” said Kimberly Aceves, executive director of RYSE, in a prepared statement.

The Obama administration last month released guiding principles to improve school climate and discipline, which recommended restorative justice solutions instead of punitive policies and court referrals that can lead to a “school-to-prison pipeline” that disproportionately affects youths of color.

“I am relieved to know that Jewlyes will now have the chance to find peace and safety outside of the criminal justice system,” said Masen Davis, executive director of the Transgender Law Center, in the news release. “Youth belong in schools, not jails. All students, including transgender students, should be able to go to school feeling safe and supported.”