Cyber Bullying, Teen Suicide Discussed During “Reid’s Story”

PENDER/WAYNE – A husband and wife have been sharing a story of their son taking his life from cyber bullying at a young age since 2016. The Adler’s made two stops in northeast Nebraska Wednesday.

First, Dr. Mark and Joni Adler from Ralston stopped in Pender to present to 4-11th grade students before making their way towards Wayne. Students in 5-12 had the opportunity to attend an assembly hosted by Wayne Community Schools for the Adler’s to share “Reid’s Story”. Their presentation pertained to cyberbullying and teen suicide.

Mark is the Superintendent at Ralston and Joni has worked in sales. The couple spoke about their son initially during Administrator Days in early August of 2016 in Kearney.

Joni Adler said there’s a lot to learn from their presentation and she talked about it’s her desire that attendees hear whatever they want to hear at the time.

“Sometimes it might be bullying,” said Adler. “Maybe we’re speaking to the heart of a bully…Sometimes it may be a various serious point in someone that has had suicidal thoughts.”

Mark & Joni Adler talked during the assembly about their journey which their son, Reid shared with them that he had suicidal thoughts to just over one month’s time. He took his own life on January 7, 2016.

Mark and Joni have two daughters. Jade is a sophomore at the United State Military Academy at West Point and Kamille (kuh-meal) will be a ninth grader at Ralston High next year.

Wednesday afternoon there were also 10-15 students who stuck around afterwards to share their story with Mark and Joni.

“Either they had lost someone to suicide or they had been suicidal,” Adler added. “Just something spoke to them from our presentation.”

Visit www.ra13legacy.com for more information or to contact the Adler’s.

The RA13 Legacy has offered scholarships to local Ralston students, but Joni feels like they’re open to have students where they spoke at could apply.

“This year we’re giving five scholarships away,” Adler mentioned. “So, they’re $1,000 scholarships and also a $250 per person pay it forward initiative.

Both Pender and Wayne were the last stops for “Reid’s Story” during the 2017-18 school year but have a lengthy list has been scheduled to begin next fall for the Adler’s.

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