The Dallas Police Department, Verizon Wireless, and the Dallas Independent School District came  together and created the Blue in the School program. This program was implemented in 14 DISD elementary school 4^th grade classes in the 2013 Fall semester and has now grown to over 60 DISD elementary schools. Dallas police officers are trained to go into the classrooms to teach the children life skills necessary to deal with bullying, domestic violence, peer pressure, and decision-making. In today’s society, our children see so many things and they need to be able to understand that they, too, can make a change or a difference. Police officers, through the Blue in the School program, give the children the tools they need to become productive citizens in their communities. The program itself is four weeks and it allows an officer inside the classroom to teach the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, fairness, respect, caring, responsibility, and citizenship.

Verizon Wireless made the program possible by donating the funds needed to provide workbooks and other items to the students. As part of supporting Verizon in their efforts to help victims of domestic violence, each school holds a HopeLine drive collecting unused call phones and cell phone accessories. Verizon’s HopeLine program provides domestic violence education and cell phones to victims so they will have a way to call for help if needed. This program also gives people a safe and environmentally friendly way to dispose of their wireless phones. Each school is given four weeks to collect as many phones and accessories as possible. This helps teach the students that there are so many ways to give back to their community.

Adelle Turner Elementary collected the most cell phones and accessories during the Spring 2015 Blue in the School HopeLine Drive. Verizon Wireless rewarded the students’ efforts by hosting a celebration and providing snacks and gifts to the students and their teachers. Additionally, the students participated in a dance contest with the winning class receiving a Verizon gift bag. Special recognition was also given to the six students who best exemplified one of the Six Pillars of Character.