DA invites author to talk about ‘Mean Girls’ book

SALEM – Best-selling author Rosalind Wiseman, who penned the book “Queen Bees and the Wannabes,” on which the popular movie “Mean Girls” is based, will be the keynote speaker at the annual School Safety Conference on Tuesday, April 7 at the Topsfield Fairgrounds.The conference, hosted by Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett, is entitled “Creating a Safe School Environment: Best Practices for Addressing Bullying, Harassment, Sexting and Aggression.” The event is from 8 a.m. to 2 p..m.Wiseman is also the author of “Owning Up,” a violence prevention curriculum designed for high school and middle school students. She is a frequent guest on the Today Show and has been profiled in the New York Times, USA Today and on television venues such as Oprah, Nightline, CNN, Good Morning America and network affiliates throughout the country.Richard Cole, a nationally known civil rights attorney and former Civil Rights Division chief in the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, will be the conference’s featured speaker. Cole has extensive experience in enforcement, investigation, counseling and prevention training in grades K-12.Essex County school superintendents, administrators, educators and police, along with public and mental health providers, are invited to attend the conference. For more information, contact Blodgett’s Juvenile Justice Unit at 978-745-6610, ext. 5086.