Saeger Middle School

Detours While Implementing SW-PBSDr. Brian Schick, Principal

Dr. Kelly Helmick, Assistant PrincipalJennifer Jorel, Tier 2/3 Coach

Suzan Wilson, Tier 1 CoachPhyllis Bilodeau, Tier 1 Team Member

Who We Are at Saeger

• 760 students in grades 6 – 8.• 13% SpEd, 19% Free/Reduced, 3% ESL.• Our 6th year in SW-PBS.• Procedures in place for Tiers 1, 2, & 3.• This has been a long journey with many

detours!

2

Increase Positive Reinforcements• We wanted to celebrate our good choices

– Aside from honor roll and attendance awards– Aside from the 4:1 used in the classroom

• We wanted a system to track student progress. • We wanted a system we could track our progress.

Positive Reinforcements• Tear off caught-cha’s

– Students drawn weekly for prizes– In the first year, caught-cha’s were up 1,385%!– Over 3,758 caught-cha’s were written.

Caught-cha’s need to be simple!

Positive Reinforcements

Privilege cards• Assemblies• Outside Lunches • Give-Aways

Thanks for being on a roll! (Tootsie Rolls)

You make smartie choices! (Smarties)

How about s’more good behavior!

(graham crackers & hot chocolate)

You’ve had a super sweet year! (snow cones)

Celebrations need to be memorable!

Pictures of assemblies here.

Collective Involvement of ALL Staff• We wanted all staff members to have input into our

SW-PBS program and lesson planning. • We wanted to build a sense of community,

ownership, and true buy-in. • We had naysayers! Ahhhhh!• We needed it to be easy.

Collective Involvement of ALL Staff• PLAN A: Allow teachers the latitude to integrate weekly lesson ideas into their curriculum.

• PLAN B: Have all departments take turns developing weekly school-wide “Talking Points.”– This includes everyone! – Set aside time in Home Base weekly for “Talking Points.”– Allow each area to address the behaviors they are seeing,

and tie them to our core pillars.

Bus Issues! The 3:16 Spike!• We had the core values down pat from 8:15 – 3:15.• Bus issues were a huge problem.• There was clearly a disconnect for our students.

Bus Issues! The 3:16 Spike!• Bus driver SW-PBS kits at beginning of the year.

– Team shirts for drivers.– Brochure explaining SW-PBS for drivers.– Caught-cha’s.– Laminated, magnetic matrix of bus expectations.– Life Savers and emergency chocolate.– Empowering our bus drivers to take control.

• Bus meetings at start of year. • Bus Challenge

– One week of no troubles meant an after-school snack.– The snack was handed to students by the bus driver.

• Adopted buses with high referrals. – Teachers boarded buses and provided daily pre-corrects.

Bus Issues! The 3:16 Spike Solved!• Our efforts paid off!• 2010 – 2011 113 bus-related office referrals. • 2011 – 2012 59 bus-related office referrals.

Reluctant Teachers• Just like student behaviors either avoid or get

something, so does adult behavior! • Was it to avoid work or was it to get more time for

curriculum?

Reluctant Teachers• Ask for their help on a specific task.

– Bulletin boards, a small role in an assembly, seek their input, possible presenters at faculty meetings.

– Make it a point to use their ideas.– Celebrate their small efforts (just like you would with a

child).

• Peer pressure has power for adults. Surround them with positive joy.

• The results are in the data. This has power. Broadcast your data loud, clear, and frequently.

Reluctant Teachers• Offer to help in problematic classrooms.

– We contacted our district SW-PBS coordinator and asked her to do building walk-thru’s.

– We also asked her to make herself available to observe in classrooms and provide feedback to teachers.

• This was a safe, non-judgmental way for teachers to get ideas. • Teachers actually took her up on the offer. • This was not used in performance reviews and not shared with our

building Principals.

• We continue to do mini-workshops at ALL faculty meetings.

• When you help teachers directly, they see the value!

Where is everyone? Help!!!• Not enough time! • Not enough people!• We needed to divide and conquer.

Finding Help• Divide your lead people by Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. Each Tier needs its own Coach. • Come up with specific leadership roles within each

Tier. – Student Recognition– Community Outreach – Data – Communications– Teaching Expectations/Lessons

Staff Turn Over• We had lots of retirees! • This meant a lot of new staff members who had

never heard of SW-PBS.

Staff Turn Over• New staff = New Helpers! • New staff are introduced to SW-PBS during a

welcome aboard luncheon. • This is followed up by a 3 hour required training

session for new staff. • Trained teachers with clear expectations help the

entire team!• A SW-PBS procedures manual is essential.

Community Involvement• We need more parent and community involvement

in our efforts. • SW-PBS teams are stretched thin. • Money is tight. • We have on-going communication with our families,

but it is out-going communication, and not a two-way dialogue. We want a partnership.

• Parents have power, and we need to harness that power!

Community Involvement• We tried partnering with local stores frequented by

our students by providing them caught-cha’s. – This did not work.

• We tried having parents sit in on the SW-PBS meetings, but we found it was difficult to maintain student confidentiality.

Community Involvement• Parent brochure handed out at schedule pick-up.• Monthly newsletter article focusing on behavior.• Caught-cha winners are listed in our newsletter for

parents. • Our PACK (PTO) helps us seek donations for give-

aways from local restaurants and stores. • Our PACK is planning a family dinner night to raise

money.• This continues to be a gravel road for us. Any

suggestions?

Contact Information

Saeger Middle School 5201 Highway N Cottleville, MO 63304636.851.5600http://fhsdsm.sharpschool.net/