By Amy Bachmann
Special to the Bellevue Reporter
Finding the good in every student is coming even easier to the teachers and staff at several Bellevue schools, thanks to a program designed to get kids ready to learn by setting standards for positive behavior.
“This program is all about increasing positive interactions,” said Kimm Klassen, MSW, who led the team at Lake Hills and Stevenson elementary schools last year.
The program, called Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS), was introduced at Lake Hills and Stevenson in 2010-11 with funding from Bellevue Schools Foundation, and has been added at Sherwood Forest and Ardmore elementary schools, where it is funded by the school district. The program is designed to support stronger positive interactions, both “student to teacher” and “student to student.”
“PBIS is an evidence-based intervention program that provides a common language for everyone involved,” Klassen said. “For the first 20 Days, the whole school receives the same message: Show Respect, Solve Problems, and Make Good Decisions. As the year goes on, it becomes more specialized.”
Teachers provide students with concrete examples for accomplishing these goals in every area, from the lunchroom to the library. Teachers also receive specialized training and support materials throughout the year.
“I am so lucky to have such a supportive PBIS team,” said Klassen.
The teams consist of teacher representatives from each grade level, school counselors, wrap-around coordinators, and other specialists to ensure every grade level receives a consistent message.
At Lake Hills, the team has developed Social Skills and Relationship Building groups for 1st, 4th and 5th grade girls, as well as a Structured Recess Program complete with a boys’ football team.
The team at Stevenson has developed special interest groups that target at-risk students, including students who have lost a parent or who are experiencing divorce at home.
Further support is given by partnering students with adult mentors with whom they “check in” each morning to set daily goals. At the end of each day, they “check out” with their mentor, reinforcing the positive lessons learned that day.
The program has been astonishingly successful. Experts from the University of Washington evaluated the first two program sites and found that 90 percent of all student-teacher interactions follow the Positive Behavior model, which is well above the average.
The results from the university are exciting, but watching children’s individual successes is even more rewarding, according to Lake Hills teacher Kindra Clayton, who describes the positive effects on a student in her classroom.
“By implementing common language and strategies, frequent and positive interactions and words of encouragement, as well as a “check-in/check-out” system, this student is thriving in second grade. Feeling successful and proud of himself, he has a smile that lights up a room.”
As Klassen added, “That is a smile we rarely used to see.”’
Amy Bachmann, M.Ed., is a Bellevue School District parent and Bellevue Schools Foundation volunteer.
