Chiara Goes to Washington

AP Photo: Chiara Perkins (right), a junior at Walton High School, seated next to First Lady Laura Bush and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at President Bush's Conference on School Safety.

Youth Crime Watcher tapped as only student to speak at White House Conference on School Safety

October 2006: High School Junior Chiara Perkins, President of the Walton High School Youth Crime Watch, De Funiak Springs, FL, was selected to share her experiences with national policymakers at the October 10, 2006 White House Conference on School Safety. President Bush called experts together for the meeting after shootings at schools in Wisconsin, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

In panel discussions led by members of his Cabinet, speakers said the best response is basic: get parents, school leaders, students and police to work together. Ms. Perkins appeared on the Crime Prevention and Preparedness Panel moderated by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and also answered a question from President Bush. Perkins openly advocated the importance of youth and adults working together as partners if we are to truly make schools safe.

The only student to speak on a panel at the conference, Perkins met the President and sat with First Lady Bush and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for a portion of the procedings.

Related stories:

Strategies for Stopping School Violence

Recent School Shooting Plots Point Out Importance of Youth Crime Watch Approach, editorial, 4/24/06

Spotlight on Chiara Perkins, 4/2006

White House photo by Shealah Craighead

White House photo by Kimberlee Hewitt

 

Read about it

Walton County Student Talks School Safety with President Bush, Northwest Florida Daily News, 10/10/06

Bush Summit on School Violence Begins, The Burlington Free Press, 10/10/06

Official Links

President's Conference on School Safety official website