Albany

School bullying is a major problem, with nearly one in every three teens affected in the U.S. It causes poor grades, poor attendance, not to mention depression, anxiety and, in some extreme cases, even suicide.

Yet researchers are finding that for all their work training educators to combat the problem, school districts often overlook the very people who witness bullying the most: school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians and other support staff. An Albany-based nonprofit is hoping to help fill that gap with a new training program designed to help bus drivers respond to bullying incidents, particularly those related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.

"These are the first folks kids see every morning, and often the last person they see every day," said Peter Mannella, executive director of the Cyr Foundation For Excellence in School Transportation. "They know when the kid has had a bad day, when a kid is about to cry. And they are some of the warmest people your kids will encounter all day. The drivers are as important to that kid's life as anyone, and we have to equip them."

Designed by the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute, out of Syracuse, and sponsored by the Utica National Insurance Group, the bullying program educates school bus drivers, attendants and monitors on laws governing bullying and LGBT-related discrimination — a topic many might be uncomfortable or simply unfamiliar with, Mannella said.

Bullying statistics, however, show that training and awareness are urgently needed, as LGBT issues remains a top reason children are targeted by bullies. In New York, bullying incidents reported through the Dignity for All Students Act show that gender and sexual orientation are the No. 1 and No. 2 reasons students are targeted, followed by race, ethnicity and disability.

Suicide statistics also underscore the need for urgency, with suicide rates and attempts among LGBT youth much higher than their straight peers.

"It was because of the sensitivity and politics around the gender issue that we thought we should highlight it in the program," Mannella said. "We wanted to increase drivers' awareness to these issues and to their own feelings about it."

Based on anecdotal evidence collected during a trial run of the program in central New York, their feelings on the topic are quite mixed, he said.

"There were some drivers in the pilot who said, 'I came here not wanting to hear about this. My parents raised me as a certain religion and we don't believe in this. I was afraid you were gonna tell me I have to change what I believe. Thank you for teaching me, not preaching at me,' " he said.

Another driver shared a story of befriending a transgender girl before she had transitioned, and feeling like he had lost a best friend when she came back to school in the fall with a different name and different clothes.

"He didn't feel that way because he was hateful or anything, he just didn't know how to handle it," Mannella said. "The school had known about the transition, but nobody had told him, hey, your student at Stop A is transgender and is going to be a girl this morning. The schools have to be better about keeping drivers in the loop."

Much of the program is focused on education and awareness of gender issues, but also includes tips on practical approaches for handling gender-related bullying, how to report incidents and setting a positive atmosphere on the school bus that discourages such behavior.

Following the pilot run, Shenendehowa Central Schools in Clifton Park was the first district to officially take part in the program, with 230 bus drivers, attendants and staff undergoing the training this month.

Superintendent L. Oliver Robinson did not respond to a request for comment. A district spokeswoman also declined to comment, saying the district did not want to be the "poster child" for the program. Later, she provided a statement from Transportation Director Alfred Karam stating the department is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all students.

"When we became aware of this new program we decided to offer it as part of our overall safety training program," he said. "The presenter, Betty Hughes, was able to connect well with our employees and help them understand their role in creating a safe environment for LGBTQ through behavior management techniques and understanding their own perspectives."

The program is being offered on a voluntary basis, Mannella said. The Saratoga Springs City School District has also signed up for the program and will undergo training in March.

"Most kids are not being bullied in some overt manner in math class," he said. "School bullying primarily happens on the school bus, in the gym, in the cafeteria, in the hallway between classes. So it's important we provide training and support to the folks driving buses, leading gym class, serving food or monitoring the hallways."

bbump@timesunion.com • 518-454-5387 • @bethanybump