Graham Independent School District

Character Education Programming Overview

Subject:  Program Overview - Steered Straight Programming - For May 18-21 (Crestview will be May 20, 2026)

Steered Straight programming was recommended by Graham Police Department and funded through a grant by the City of Graham. Steered Straight programming was reviewed and approved by the Graham ISD School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) on October 16, 2025.  Steered Straight assemblies will take place at all GISD campuses the week of May 18-21.  A community/parent session will be offered prior to any student assemblies on Sunday, May 17, 6:00 pm, at the Graham High School Auditorium. 

In alignment with Senate Bill 12, Graham ISD is providing notice to parents of Character Education and Substance Abuse Programming and providing an avenue for parents to exercise their right to decide if their child will attend the training.  If you would like to not allow your child to attend, please complete the attached form.

Steered Straight is tailored by grade level, Kindergarten through 3rd grade will focus on being a good person and good friend and include Stranger Danger instruction.  Grades 4 & 5 will continue the early elementary strand and expand into Bullying and personal decision-making.  Grades 6, 7, & 8 continue into vaping education and drug awareness and prevention programming.  High School presentations will expand into the realities of poor decision -making, vaping, drug awareness and prevention.

Background Information:   Steered Straight Website for review    

Steered Straight is a 17-year proven program that does not explain drug prevention at school assemblies but TEACHES the reality of drugs and devises a prevention message the students implement themselves within their school system.

Steered Straight has become the number one booked program in America with assemblies focused on drug education prevention. The program is primarily based on the uniqueness of the messenger, someone who has suffered the consequences of negative decisions. We have found that youth instantly identify with Michael DeLeon as a changed, motivated teacher with a real-life story to tell.

Steered Straight does not simply educate students about the harmful nature of vaping, drugs and alcohol but provides the reality and deadly impact it can and will have on their lives. Steered Straight honors the concern parents’ have on how to help their kids and provides active solutions.

Steered Straight Purpose: To reach youth and young adults through motivational speaking, life-sharing seminars and interactive curriculum in order to:

• Provide youth with real-life examples of negative consequences that resulted from making poor decisions.

• Impact the minds of youth to steer their lives in positive ways and encourage them to make positive life-choices.

• Give kids the ability to develop a sense of understanding about the positive and negative choices in their lives.

• Reduce the number of youth who end up in the criminal justice system due to making poor decisions.

Programming will be presented at each Graham ISD campus with the message transitioning from kindness & inclusion to making good choices, to vaping and drug prevention.