What is your background?
I’ve been a certified school nurse for 15 years and have a master’s in health education, a subject I’ve always been interested in. I’ve also worked with my district on several revisions of our graded course of study for health.

What do you think about this program?
When I learned about the computer-assisted learning modules for tobacco prevention, I was very excited about introducing this to our staff. It’s an exciting and new strategy for teaching health promotion. Hats off to the American Lung Association and The Cleveland Clinic for initiating this program.

What makes this program work in your schools?
I have been fortunate to have my librarians and media specialists at Colonial Hills (Nancy Costello) and at Wilson Hill (Lori Poleway) teaching these classes to our fourth- and fifth- grade students. The teachers’ endorsement and these specialists made these programs happen in our school.

What do you like best about Word of Mouth?
Several aspects of Word of Mouth excite me. I am so glad to see tobacco settlement money being used in Ohio for prevention activities. The Web-based programs promise to give research-based, sound health education programs to Ohio’s children’s starting with the 4th grade. The graphics and information are presented in a very fun interactive program.

What is the biggest challenge in preventing tobacco use by kids?
The challenges that health educators face are giving students factual information early enough and preparing them to make good health choices as they enter their teen years. Students are too often influenced by advertising and family members who are tobacco users.

What question are you most often asked by students?
The question I am most asked by students is how to get their mom or dad to quit smoking. Students are very worried about their parents’ health. They want to know if they will die or face serious health risks. Many students are unsure of how to prevent their own exposure to second-hand smoke in their homes.

What will your students take away from the program?
I think it is too early to tell what information they have retained. I do know that the WOM program has sparked a lot of enthusiasm among teachers and students about tobacco use. This information will carry over to fifth grade health classes when students learn about how tobacco smoke affects the unborn child.