Kevin Jennings knows a thing or two about school harassment.

The assistant deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Education's Safe and Drug Free School program is one of the nation's authorities on bullying in schools because he lived it while growing up in both both Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Lewisville, N.C. Jennings was good student, eventually graduating magna cum laude in history from Harvard University and obtaining a master's degree from the New York University's Stern School of Business.

But he is also gay, which made his childhood especially difficult.

Jennings will share some of his experiences and will explain the importance of eliminating bullying and harassment from the nation's schools during a first-of-its-kind Web presentation on May 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern, sponsored by NAPT, NASDPTS and the Public School Risk Institute. The Webinar is limited to the first 200 registrants.

Bob Riley, the executive director at NASDPTS, said Jenning's presentation represents, perhaps, the school transportation industry's best opportunity yet to create strong ties to the Department of Education.

Riley, NAPT Executive Director Mike Martin and NASDPTS President-Elect Mike Simmons met with Jennings last month in Washington, D.C., during industry lobbying meetings held in conjunction with NSTA's annual spring board meeting.

"He was not only willing but I mean anxious to work with us," Riley added. "He's the first DOE person who has said, 'Hey, it's important what goes on the bus we need to work together because, without you guys, we can't get the kids to school and can't teach them.'"

The Obama administration is pushing increased student safety in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act currently still in Congress.

Jennings founded the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in 1990 and served as the organization's executive director until late 2008. He has also written six books, and wrote and produced the documentary Out of the Past, the 1998 Sundance Film Festival award winner for best documentary. In 1997, Newsweek magazine named Jennings one of its 100 people to watch in the new century.