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For our Teachers

Who is responsible for classroom management?

You, please. The D.A.R.E. Officer is there as a guest in your classroom. We ask for your help in not only maintaining order in the classroom but to assist us with your years of knowledge on how we can do a better job. By staying in the classroom, it not only covers liability, but allows us to learn and grow from your experience as we work as a team to help the young people to learn the material and make better decisions on a daily basis.

What should I expect from my D.A.R.E. Officer?

The same winning attitude that is expected as teachers coming into the classroom – Punctual, friendly, helpful and a willingness to work with the students to help them make better decisions. We need your help - There may be times when we can work together to see about extra grades, assistance with classroom management, essay reports and other items.

What is covered in the lessons?

Few logos of not‐for‐profit organizations in the United States are more recognized than that of the D.A.R.E. program. Familiarity with the D.A.R.E. logo, however, doesn’t necessarily translate into an understanding of D.A.R.E.’s mission and programming. Today’s D.A.R.E. may not be the D.A.R.E. with which you are familiar.

Since 2003, D.A.R.E. America has engaged in a total organizational renewal:

The new D.A.R.E. K‐12 curricula focus upon the abuse of gateway drugs (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and inhalants). The program offers a preventive strategy to enhance protective factors ‐ especially bonding to family, school and community ‐ which research has shown to foster development of resiliency in students who may be at risk for substance abuse or other problem behaviors. The program employs the use of the D.A.R.E. decision making model in which students are provided skills to use in developing and assessing choices they make in life.

Students build skills to:

The D.A.R.E. Officer, using techniques of facilitation – gone are the days of the didactic lecture – guides students as they work in small cooperative learning groups using the D.A.R.E. decision making model to apply to real life situations.

The new D.A.R.E. elementary curriculum has been reduced to 10 lessons and a menu of enhancement lessons implemented. The enhancement lessons provide local jurisdictions the ability to customize their D.A.R.E. program to meet identified needs. Many enhancement lessons will be developed, among those currently offered are: gangs, methamphetamines, internet safety, bullying and cyber bullying. The most recent addition is the D.A.R.E. Rx/OTC (prescription/ over‐the‐counter) Drug abuse materials. The D.A.R.E. Rx/OTC Drug Abuse materials include lessons for elementary and middle school, high school and community presentations.

What are teachers saying?

"I think the thing that stands out to me most is the final essay that the students write before they graduate from the D.A.R.E. Program. The students put real-life experience into their essays and justify why they will choose not to make unhealthy decisions. One child shared about losing a loved one to a drunk driver. These stories stand out to me every time I hear an essay read." Cheryl – 6th grade teacher

"The essays are so powerful. It brings families together. One year a 6th grader won the essay contest and her mom and grandmother were there to see it. They were all crying. I will never forget that moment.” “I also will never forget the funny stories that the students would share. They were so honest with the D.A.R.E. Officer. I have also seen that the worst behaved students can and will behave to get to the D.A.R.E. graduation!" Casi – 6th grade teacher

"I love the excitement the student show when D.A.R.E. starts and each week as they anticipate the officers coming. I also enjoy, yet feel the heart break, when students are honest in their essays at the end of the program. Some of them show how much they learned as they share personal stories in their essays.& Lynne – 5th grade teacher

"The one that will always stand out in my mind was a reoccuring story or question year after year. The only thing that the students wanted to know from the moment they entered my classroom in early August was: "When do we start D.A.R.E.?" That was the question every other week until it started. I had to write the date on the board and they counted down the days until it started. When it was over they would say the rest of the year, "I wish we still had D.A.R.E. class!"

I guess the most important part of D.A.R.E. for me as a teacher was our D.A.R.E. officer. We had the greatest! Our officer always went over and beyond her duties for the children and they dearly loved D.A.R.E. and the Officer!" Angie – 5th grade teacher

"D.A.R.E. is important to our school because of the relationship that forms with our local law enforcement. The students first learn to trust the officer and what they stand for. That trust is usually built immediately when they see that they can rely on that officer to be the role model my students need. I watch as the students begin to make better choices. I often hear them tell eachother, "that’s not what Officer---- told us to do" or "didn’t you learn that in D.A.R.E. class?" or "I am not because I don’t want Officer ----- to be disappointed/mad at me." I watch the students as they begin to work through things together as a team, they learn to trust more and seek help when needed. D.A.R.E. teaches life-skills to students that they can and will use for the remainder of their lives. I also feel strongly that the D.A.R.E. Officer’s attitude is a big key to the success of the program." Amanda – 6th grade teacher