Bio
John Vandenburgh began his career as a High School Teacher in Southern California. In 2002 he was honored as one of the California League of High Schools Educators of the Year. When he became a Safe Schools Administrator for schools in Southern California, his career transitioned and he began focusing on violence prevention services in schools.
John has served on the California Department of Education’s Gang Task Force, where he assisted in developing the Getting Results Update on Gang Violence for schools in the state of California. In 2007, he received the “Ananda Guruge” (Ger – Gay) Lifetime Commitment Award, presented by Stop the Violence, Increase the Peace Foundation based in Los Angeles, California. He is currently the Vice President of the California School Resource Officers Association (CSROA) and an active member of the Southern California Regional Violence Prevention Coalition.
John Vandenburgh is a nationally recognized speaker, program developer and trainer on violence prevention and youth development approaches in education. John has presented for the California Office of Homeland Security on Developing Safe Schools, California Attorney General Gang Summit on Gang Prevention in schools, and The National Youth at Risk Conference on Utilizing Youth Leadership strategies to develop school climate. He is the author of the PLUS (Peer Leaders Uniting Students) Program, and the creator of the internet safety software “CyberBully Alert.” His latest work has gained international attention as an innovative method and strategy for addressing online safety and Cyberbullying.
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Testimonials
Speaking:
John Vandenburgh's keynote presentation at the SSDA Annual Conference received the highest of ratings. He followed that with a workshop presentation where respondents indicated an hour wasn't long enough! John has been invited back to our 2010 Annual Conference as a keynote speaker and we have provided him an extra hour for his workshop! His expertise, personable demeanor and sense of humor make him a speaker that helps guarantee a successful event." - Al Sandrini, Executive Director, California Small School District Association
"John Vandenburgh was a strategic consultant for the Inland Empire Violence Prevention Coalition, working with youth in the Southwest Riverside School Districts providing mediation training through a grant provided by the California Wellness Foundation. Exceptional results!
Khalid Shah Board Member IEVPC"
Plus:
"The PLUS Program is an outstanding opportunity to empower youth as agents in creating positive, powerful changes in the culture of our schools. With over eighteen years of experience in school safety, I have not come across a more effective approach than the PLUS Program". - Wayne Sakamoto - Director Safe Schools - Murrieta Valley USD
"On a campus of 3000 plus students, the Peer Leaders Uniting Students Program has helped build our campus more into a community. Students of all backgrounds work towards a greater unity, community and understanding of one another. PLUS has helped students realize that they matter and the stories of all students are important." - Shane Morey - PLUS Advisor, Escondido High School
“PLUS is what I've been looking for all these years! As a school counselor, I was always looking for something that would empower and appeal to ALL students to demonstrate their leadership and at the same time truly make a difference on our campus and in our community. The PLUS Program creates and spreads a consistent message of the importance of connections and relationships. It is a program genuinely based on the students and their voices. When we create a safe environment and give our students permission to truly speak their minds, be heard and listen to each other, then the magic happens.” - Cherryl Baker - School Counselor, PLUS Advisor, Mission Hills High School
"The PLUS Program gives schools the ability to assess the Social Emotional Learning Environment of a Campus. Every counseling department across the country should have the PLUS Program as a resource on their campus." - Dean Lesicko - President California Association School Counselors
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