Morris County Deputy and D.A.R.E. Coordinator Markese Godley spoke to the Council Grove Rotary Club on Wednesday, outlining the role of school resource officers, the modern D.A.R.E. program and several local safety initiatives aimed at students and families.
Godley serves full-time with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and also works as one of the county’s school resource officers. He said the D.A.R.E. program, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, has changed significantly since it was first introduced in the 1980s.
While early versions of D.A.R.E. focused heavily on telling students to “just say no” to drugs, Godley said the modern program has moved toward building confidence, communication skills and responsible decision-making.
The elementary D.A.R.E. curriculum includes 10 lessons. Topics include establishing a safe learning environment, making responsible choices, managing stress, communicating effectively, understanding peer pressure, regulating emotions, assessing risks and consequences, building positive relationships, learning about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, vaping and other drugs, and developing personal strategies for safe decision-making.
Godley said the classroom work is largely student-led. Students participate in discussions, activities and role-playing exercises that encourage critical thinking and problem- solving. “I don’t do a lot of talking in there,” Godley told Rotary members, explaining that students read scenarios, ask questions and work through situations together.
The program is currently offered in White City and Council Grove. Godley said he generally begins the school year in White City, where he teaches one lesson per week, then works with Council Grove students after the first of the year. The regular D.A.R.E. program takes about 10 weeks, although the schedule can extend longer depending on school calendars and additional lessons.
Godley said White City has about 12 students in the program, while Council Grove has about 50 students in three classes. Council Grove Police Officer Alex Wooden also assists with the Council Grove classes.
In addition to the core D.A.R.E. lessons, Godley said he provides instruction on vaping, internet safety, responsible social media use, seat belt safety, teen driving awareness, distracted driving prevention and traffic safety. He recently presented information on vaping at the Community Thrift Store, including how to distinguish nicotine vapes from THC vapes and how to dispose of them properly, as there had been some in the store’s donation boxes that needed to be discarded.
Godley also discussed several local safety programs that are being developed or expanded.
One is a DUI awareness program using a pedal cart and impairment-simulation goggles. The goal is to allow students to experience how impairment can affect coordination, reaction time and decision-making. Godley said he hopes to work with driver’s education teachers to incorporate the program. Another program is SAFE, which stands for Seat Belts Are For Everyone. Godley said both Council Grove Junior/Senior High School and White City Schools have agreed to participate. The student-led program will include seat belt surveys, with students observing whether drivers and passengers are buckled up and whether drivers appear to be using phones while entering school parking lots.
The information will be compiled and presented to the schools. Godley said the effort will also connect with a mandatory enforcement period similar to the “Click It or Ticket” campaign.
Godley recently became a certified child passenger safety technician. Once the program details are finalized, he said he will be able to work with parents and caregivers on proper car seat installation and child passenger safety. He noted that each appointment can take about 45 minutes per child.
Godley told Rotary members that D.A.R.E. is a national program, but he does not receive direct funding for the local effort. He said he funds the program through his own efforts and participation in the Council Grove Area Foundation’s Match Month.
Godley said his goal is to use D.A.R.E. and related programs to help students make safer choices while also building positive relationships between students, schools, law enforcement and the community.