County Office to Host Respect! 24/7 Conference
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The County Office is gearing up for Respect! 24/7, its annual anti-bullying and civility initiative to create safe, caring, and equitable learning environments.
What Is Respect! 24/7?
The County Office launched Respect! 24/7 after a San Mateo County Grand Jury report called on our school districts to update their anti-bullying policies to be more comprehensive and consistent. Now, the County Office recognizes Respect! 24/7 Month and hosts a countywide conference to help districts create positive and safe school environments.
Every fall, staff develop resources and professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators to dive deeply into topics such as cyberbullying, youth voice, digital citizenship, disproportionate rates of suspension and expulsion, LGBTQ and gender identity, suicide prevention, and youth mental health.
Why Respect! 24/7?
All students are entitled to safe, orderly, caring, and equitable learning environments that promote academic success, school connectedness, and meaningful participation. Students who are subjected to bullying, teasing, and other threats are at risk of experiencing long-term damage to their mental health, self-esteem, and academic success.
By fostering a positive school climate, a sense of belonging, and social-emotional learning, schools can decrease student absenteeism, suspensions, substance abuse, and bullying while also increasing student academic achievement, motivation to learn, and psychological well-being.
This Year's Conference
September 26, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Respect Isn’t a Rule - It’s a Culture Shift builds on the mission of Respect! 24/7: to support schools in creating safe, caring, and equitable environments where all students are seen, valued, and able to thrive. This year’s theme pushes us to move beyond surface-level behavior policies and recognize that respect must be built into the culture of our schools, not just enforced by rules.
Respect! 24/7 addresses critical issues like cyberbullying, youth voice, digital citizenship, LGBTQ+ identity, suicide prevention, and the disproportionate suspension and expulsion of students from marginalized backgrounds. These aren’t just “student problems.” They are community responsibilities, and addressing them requires shared leadership from everyone who shapes the learning environment. That includes teachers, classified staff, counselors, site leaders, students, families, and district teams. Culture isn’t something we manage from the top down; it’s something we co-create daily.
This theme reminds us that meaningful change happens not through policies alone but through values-driven action at every level. Respect is not about compliance; it’s about connection. It’s not just what we ask of students; it’s how we show up for them - every interaction, every decision, every day.