How does your team use data to make decisions on campus? Data confirms for us where and when problems are occurring. We recognized that we had problem behaviors at different times and locations.  We then made plans to improve or implement procedures that would improve positive behaviors and discourage inappropriate behaviors.  Examples include Hallways during arrival and dismissal, breakfast in the cafeteria, restrooms in the 100 building before and after school.

How do you share information with the rest of your faculty (e.g., emails, newsletters, meetings, etc.)?  How often do you share this information? This is an area we could improve upon.  We shared data mid-year with our staff during a PBS update at a faculty meeting.  Our school holds regular data meetings that look at academic data.  We could incorporate discipline data on a more consistent basis during these meetings.

What do you see as the overall strengths of your team?  Please provide details. This team is consists of members who are not afraid to speak up or work hard.  Each member follows through on commitments to meet regularly, share opinions, support events and encourage positive behaviors on campus.  Members hold different perspectives on campus life and culture and all are valued as they provide balanced procedures and incentives for students.

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. The Sadler PBS team does a good job rewarding students:

• Mustang SPIRIT Cards: All staff may award any student with a SPIRIT card when the student displays any of the following expectations: Successful, Prepared, Involved, Respectful, Integrity and Taking Pride
• SPIRIT Store: Students may redeem their SPIRIT cards once a month at the SPIRIT store.  Students must have 5, 10 or 15 cards to shop.  Each item costs 5 cards.  Items are donated by staff.  Staff members clean out closets, garages and visit A Gift for Teaching.  (AFT is a free teacher supply store in our district) to stock items for the store.
• Mustang SPIRIT Celebration: Twice a year, at the end of each semester, students may redeem 25 SPIRIT cards to attend a special celebration.  Snacks, music, crafts and games are some of the activities.  Student names are drawn from those attending and are awarded a variety of door prizes.
• Wall of Fame: The Sadler Dean asks classroom teachers to nominate students who have shown consistent positive behavior for the “Wall of Fame”.  (Students must not have had any office or discipline referrals.) Once nominated, the student’s photo is taken and then placed on the wall outside the cafeteria.  Elementary students respond very well to seeing their picture displayed in a public area such as this.  As students pass to and from lunch they will search for their own face or the faces of their friends. 

The Sadler Team has worked to target problem areas:

• Restrooms in the 100 Building: Discipline data showed that there was an increased amount of inappropriate behavior happening in the restrooms in the 100 building.  (These are boy/girl restrooms that serve the whole floor.)  There was gang related graffiti, pictures taken with cell phones and other cameras.  There was not enough school staff to monitor four large restrooms, so the PBS team decided to close the restrooms during arrival and dismissal times. Students had access to restrooms in the cafeteria, where supervision was already present.  This action decreased the unwanted behaviors.
• Arrival procedures: Arrival time is from 8:00 - 8:35 am.  Students may go to the cafeteria for breakfast or go to designated waiting areas in the 100 Building.  When waiting, students are to sit against the hallway walls according to classroom.  Students may do homework or read a book.  School staff supervised students during this time.    There were problems with students going up and down stairs, going in and out of the cafeteria, etc.  (3-5th classrooms are upstairs.  These students wait outside their classrooms.  K-2nd are held on the first floor.)  The PBS team clarified procedures and enlisted administration to help monitor behaviors.  Staff directed students to go to breakfast first, then go to designated waiting areas.   Teachers were asked provide boxes or baskets of books for those students without reading material. Once a student went to the 2nd floor, they were directed to remain upstairs.  Clarifying the procedures reduced the amount of unnecessary movement and limited the potential for problem behaviors.
• Dismissal procedures:  Close to 800 students are dismissed in about 15 minutes.  It became apparent that there were some bottle necks in some hallways during this time.  The PBS team looked at the different dismissal groups and determined that staggering the dismissal times in a new sequence could clear up the hallways.  The changes were implemented and the congestion was cleared.  Students and staff could pass safely and quickly to dismissal.

Discuss the changes you have seen on campus since PBS implementation (e.g., data, climate, morale, etc.). Changes: PBS Team members are recognized by the staff.  Staff provide valuable feedback, which is then brought to team discussions. PBS provides a way to identify behaviors and an ongoing way to develop school wide strategies to encourage positive behaviors.  It also provides structure for consequences of negative behavior.  Students enjoy the SPIRIT store and look forward to “shopping” for the donated items.  The Wall of Fame has inspired more than a few students to earn the honor of being photographed and recognized.

What are some obstacles that your team has had to overcome?  Please explain the process for overcoming these hurdles below.Limited resources for student incentives and recognition:   “A Gift For Teaching.” Teachers may “shop” once a month for a designated amount of free items to use at school.  Many teachers regularly bring back items for the SPIRIT store.Popsicle Sales: Our Dean set up twice weekly popsicle sales so that he could provide better quality incentives for students.  Popsicles are sold at dismissal time to walkers.  This has been a successful way to raise funds.Staff buy in: We expanded staff representation.  Our team members include ESE, paraprofessionals, leadership, primary and intermediate grades.  While our personalities and perspectives are different, we are respectful of our differences and work towards agreement.  This diversity on the team has improved the overall understanding of how PBS works and supports the teachers and students.