Baltimore Curriculum Project’s (BCP) Peer Mediation program includes 110 trained students in 3rd through 8th grade, who are leading mediations with their peers. Under the guidance of BCP staff, these leaders also create lessons for young students on active listening skills, collaborative, positive conflict-resolution, and other important skills.
Created by Todd Wade, Director of Peer Mediation and Restorative Practices at City Springs Elementary / Middle School, Peer Mediators work in pairs to do mediations. Their lessons always include an anti-bullying lens–October is National Bullying Prevention Month–to help each school nurture a positive, inclusive school culture and community.
“Peer Mediator training always has an anti-bullying lens,” says Mr. Wade, who is completing refresher training for returning Peer Mediators and training for new Mediators for this school year. He lauds the program for deepening BCP’s already strong foundation of Restorative Practices.
“Having students lead their peers in Restorative Practices’ activities like mediations and lessons in social-emotional learning helps them and the students they are working with develop their voices and advocacy skills,” he explains. “We’re showing students a different way to fix issues and teaching the skills they need to be successful in school and in life.”
Read Mr. Wade’s reflections on the power of Peer Mediation.
The program is in its third year at City Springs, and BCP-wide for the past two years. Here are the numbers of 2024-2025 Peer Mediators by BCP school:
City Springs Elementary / Middle School: 35
Frederick Elementary School: 13
Govans Elementary School: 10
Hampstead Hill Academy: 20
Pimlico Elementary / Middle School: 30
Wolfe Street Academy has a different program they use.
The City Springs’ Mediators attend each training at other BCP schools to offer advice and leadership. This past August, the City Springs Mediators also attended the BCP-only workshop led by SNL star and Baltimore-born Ego Nwodim and the Baltimore Improv Group at the City Springs’ workshop. (Ms. Nwodim and BIG led individual trainings for each individual BCP school staff.) The goal is to teach improv and active listening skills to foster better student interactions and engagements.
Watch the Today Show segment on the program.
Thanks, Peer Mediators, for your leadership and support of your school!
