What makes your team work so well?  Please discuss in detail (e.g., what is your administrator’s role on the team, how is staff represented, etc.)? Delaware PBS team works well due to open and continuous communication to all stakeholders.  Faculty are interviewed and hired based on PBS model.  Administrative team and staff all meet weekly to progress monitor and set goals for PBS initiatives which are infused within the culture and school improvement model of DAS.

How does your team use data to make decisions on campus? Data is presented weekly in staff meetings (Tuesdays).  Data is displayed on the workroom wall and updated either weekly or monthly depending on the data.  DAS developed an intra-server for internal communication of individual student data sheets, both minor and major behavior reporting, SRI reading scores, SLC benchmark data.  Data is used to determine next steps in curricular development as the Teacher Group Teams work on integrated lesson plans.  All teachers completed Professional Learning Community (PLC) studies on two books concerning differentiated instruction and using data to drive instructional decisions.  Frequent Flyer reports are used to help students choose mentors and set goals.

How do you share information with the rest of your faculty (e.g., emails, newsletters, meetings, etc.)?  How often do you share this information? Data is shared with families at orientation and transition meetings, through quarterly newsletters, via email and ConnectEd phone messages.  Staff has instant access to our intranet server for PBS data, emails, weekly staff bulletins, afternoon “chocolate debriefings,” and weekly PBS meetings.

What do you see as the overall strengths of your team?  Please provide details. TEAMWORK is our overall strength.  The DAS entire team work toward our common vision, mission and goals.  Each person is accountable for moving the team forward – having a stake in the outcome of each child’s academic and behavioral growth.  We have great rapport with both families and students.  Our Transition Celebrations – quarterly are “standing room only.”  Whatever It Takes is the T-shirt worn by all staff members at Delaware.

In what areas of PBS does your team excel (e.g., rewarding students/staff, teaching expectations, data-based decision-making, etc.)?  Please provide details below. Students receive Delaware Dollars from all staff members and can use them for incentives:  Pencils, Pens, Dog Tags, Cookies, Spirit Day, School Supplies, Homework Pass, Time on the Computer, Quarterly Big Events such as October Fest and Spring Fling, Raffles.  Staff is rewarded at each weekly meeting with random drawings/raffles for community donated items such as gift baskets, coupons for lunch, shows, etc.  Students and families are indoctrinated into REACH as they enroll, students are taught REACH in classrooms and hear REACH daily by the principal.

Discuss the changes you have seen on campus since PBS implementation (e.g., data, climate, morale, etc.). Data indicate a decrease in referrals since we have implemented PBS with fidelity.  Climate surveys indicate that both students and parents feel that they are supported and safe at DAS.  Staff members have indicated on the climate survey that they spend more time on instruction and much less time on behavior.  Morale is high, Teamwork is still very much evident – even with a few days left in the year.

What are some obstacles that your team has had to overcome?  Please explain the process for overcoming these hurdles below. Transitions – students leave DAS every quarter (45 days) and students enroll daily.  This effects the climate and makes the staff work harder to maintain REACH expectations daily.