Students helping design new anti-bullying app
By Joyce Ogirri
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BULLITT COUNTY, Kentucky (WLKY) — Bullitt County Public Schools is turning to technology to strengthen student safety, partnering with Louisville-based Slingshot on an artificial intelligence-powered app that helps students report bullying, find resources, and quickly connect with support.
“There’s a mobile app that is for the students to use. And then there is a web-based portal for admin, faculty, staff, counselors,” said Sarah Bhatia, the director of AI product innovation for Slingshot.
Students at the district’s River Opportunity Center helped shape key features to make the tool feel approachable and relevant.
Students helped design this app, giving them a voice in how it works. They hope to create a safer environment both inside and outside the classroom.
For students like Savannah Ballard, the stakes are real and increasingly digital.
“Bullying is really hard because it’s not always just like in school environments. It’s also like online now,” Ballard said.
The app combines a private, on-demand chatbot with a teen-friendly resource center, quick-access emergency contacts, and the option to request a counselor directly through the app.
“Throughout the app, you have these quick contacts for emergency resources. So suicide prevention line, The Trevor Project, Bullitt County crisis,” Bhatia explained.
“This gives students an outlet to voice their opinions and to know that they’re not alone and that they have a place they can go to,” said student Audrey Gabbert.
She added that texting can feel less intimidating: “I know sometimes going to somebody is scary. And I think just being able to text or like, chat with something on your phone is a lot easier and less intimidating than going in-person.”
If a situation escalates or a student is in danger, the system can alert school staff to enable a rapid response even after school hours.
“We have an obligation to take care of them on all fronts. Our students can’t learn at high levels until they feel safe and ready to go,” said Jesse Bacon, Bullitt County Public Schools superintendent.
Bhatia said the team’s goal is to “meet kids where they already are, which is on their phones,” and reduce stigma that can keep students from seeking help.
As development continues, the district and Slingshot plan to refine the app with ongoing feedback from students and counselors, aiming to create a model that other districts in Kentucky and beyond can adopt.
“This gives students an option to better manage their feelings and their emotions. I hope that this gives students a way to figure out the problems they’re having, instead of just dealing with it and bottling it up inside,” said Ballard.
The app is expected to roll out later this school year.
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