Robert Semple Elementary School was given a silver-level recognition by the California PBIS Coalition for its adoption of an approach aimed at improving social and academic outcomes for all students. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

Following last year’s designation as a California Gold Ribbon school, Robert Semple Elementary has another honor it can claim: a Silver level recognition by the California PBIS Coalition.

Last week, Robert Semple was one of many schools throughout the state to be honored for its implementation of Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions (PBIS), an educational approach aimed at helping schools adopt educational-based interventions to improve social and academic outcomes for all students. Goals of PBIS include developing a continuum of behavior, social emotional and academic interventions and supports; using data to help make decisions and solve problems; creating a problem-free environment; encouraging positive social skills and behavior; implementing evidence-based behavioral practices; and continually monitoring student performance and progress. The developed continuum has three tiers: one that provides universal interventions for all students (Tier 1); one that puts together targeted interventions for students that need additional social, emotional and behavioral support (Tier 2); and one that creates individualized interventions for students and parents in need of additional social, emotional and behavioral support (Tier 3).

Schools that have implemented PBIS may apply for recognition at the bronze, silver, gold or platinum levels. Schools at the silver level have to report a feature from the first tier that was identified by the PBIS team as an area of improvement, report the steps noted by the team to improve said feature, provide the total percentage of the student population that have been issued a certain number of referrals and submit its Tiered Fidelity Inventory assessment online with an external evaluator and score 70 percent or higher. Semple was honored at this level, along with 593 schools from throughout California.

“Robert Semple is proud to be recognized as a PBIS distinguished school,” Semple Principal Christina Moore said. “From the inception of the program two years ago, Robert Semple staff, students and families have been 100 percent on board.”

Moore noted that since implementing PBIS, the amount of negative behavior has reduced dramatically and suspensions at the school have decreased by approximately 75 percent.

She also remarked that there was a need for PBIS around the time she began her principal tenure in 2015 when her office would become seemingly filled with children who she would describe as great students who were not making the best choices.

“What I discovered was that many lacked the tools to problem solve in a way that not only eliminated the problem, but also allowed the opportunity to fix the situation and potentially mend friendships,” she said. “I found that these choices were based on emotional reactions which, in the end, interfered with students’ abilities to build and maintain friendships and allow the students to reach their fullest potential academically, socially and emotionally.”

Semple staff decided they needed to do something to solve the issue beyond a “one size fits all” approach.

“We needed something specific to the needs of Robert Semple students,” Moore said. “It was at that time that PBIS was introduced to us. We just knew it was the answer we needed.”

PBIS was established at Semple in the 2015-16 year, and it began with staff examining problematic behaviors taking place as well as when and where they taking place. One of the issues had to do with how students lined up for lunch in the cafeteria.

“Our staff created a hilarious, but educational video that demonstrated wrong versus right behaviors,” Moore said. “Students then were expected to practice right behaviors, and as they did, we saw a huge change to the point that we very rarely have any problems with students walking and lining up for lunch.”

Semple also partnered with Liberty High School, another district school that has utilized PBIS, which provided teen mentors to model what Semple calls the 3 Bs: “Be safe, be responsible, be respectful.” One day, Liberty students came to Semple and had classes rotate through five different areas– the bathrooms, library, playground, quad and lunchroom– to identify problematic behaviors associated with those locations.

“It was a huge success, and in the end, students built positive relationships with their Liberty High School mentors,” Moore said.

Moore is happy with the way PBIS has been implemented at Semple and grateful for the school being recognized for it.

“PBIS is prevention, not punishment,” she said. “(It’s) a system intended to give students and staff tools and resources. PBIS’s goal is to target the why and teach students ways in which to prevent problems, but also be able to solve problems positively, resulting in a more positive, lasting outcome.”

Schools that have received PBIS recognition have their names displayed on the California PBIS Coalition website at www.placercoe.k12.ca.us/departments/educationalservices/prevention/cpc/pbis/Pages/staterecognition1617.aspx and will be listed at the annual PBIS Coalition Conference in Sacramento on Oct. 11 and 12.

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