As Troup County School System schools welcomed kids back to school, some were prepared to take the celebrations up a notch. Schools participating in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports re-introduced students to school-wide behavior expectations in an exciting way.

It all started in the spring of 2013 when administrators and district leaders began to notice a gradual uptick in discipline referrals. Less than a year later, the Georgia Department of Education partnered with the school system to introduce PBIS through a series of trainings and overviews.

What is PBIS?

PBIS is a school-wide approach to creating a positive and safe climate where all students can learn and grow. PBIS is an evidence-based, data driven framework that helps schools reduce disciplinary incidents, increase a school’s sense of safety, and support improved academic outcomes. Using a problem-solving process that is coupled with data as a response to intervention, PBIS helps building administrators pinpoint areas of behavior concern and correct them.

What TCSS Schools are Implementing PBIS?

Before GaDOE trained any school administrators, 80 percent of the school staff had to agree they wanted to implement PBIS within their school. In August 2015, six TCSS schools implemented PBIS. They were Berta Weathersbee Elementary, Callaway Middle, Ethel W. Kight Elementary, Franklin Forest Elementary, Gardner Newman Middle, and The Hope Academy. After seeing some major successes, four additional schools jumped on board a year later – Callaway Elementary, Callaway High, Hogansville Elementary, and Troup High.

In implementing PBIS, these schools have expectations they share school-wide. For instance, Ethel W. Kight Elementary school’s expectations are Be Responsible, Be Safe, Be Respectful. Callaway Middle school’s PBIS expectations are Be Cooperative, Be Mindful, Be Successful.

What Do the Results Show?

At Ethel W. Kight Elementary during the PBIS kick-off, administrators and teachers dressed up as Education Superhero’s dressed in graduation cap and gowns. Since EKES implemented PBIS in 2015, they have been named an Operational PBIS school with 86 percent of students having no referrals. In addition, bullying referrals are down 50%. Principal Candace McGhee says, “Our goal is to create a positive social culture that will encourage positive behaviors and interactions that lead to optimal student achievement, both academic and behavior.

Across Troup County at Hogansville Elementary, University of West Georgia and LaGrange College mascots ‘Wolfie and Pouncer’ welcomed students into the Hawaiian-themed celebration. When all students gathered in the auditorium, Principal Bret Bryant said, “Ohana is a Hawaiian word meaning family. In a family, everyone does their part. They hold each other accountable, support each other, and still have fun. At Hogansville, we plan to work hard and play hard as we bring dreams to life for every student.”

At Callaway Middle, students learn about savings through PBIS. Through a partnership with Jackson Heating and Air and Commercial Bank & Trust, students can deposit their PBIS bucks into a school savings account that gains interest. They can then save up for prizes of greater value. Since PBIS implementation at Callaway Middle, 70 percent of the students have 0-1 referral.

Dr. Jacqueline Jones, Director of Student Services for Troup County School System says, “PBIS is a systematic approach to creating a positive and safe school climate. We look forward to seeing continued positive results.”