Building a Positive School Culture (PBIS)
"Helping every kid feel safe, known, and glad to be here."
The challenge
A good school culture doesn't happen by accident. It takes real systems, consistent expectations, and lots of chances to catch kids doing things right.
My leadership
On our PBIS Leadership Team, I've helped build schoolwide systems that recognize positive behavior and strengthen relationships, recognition programs, schoolwide events, and behavior supports that give teachers consistency and give kids a reason to feel connected.
The impact
Clearer expectations, more positive reinforcement, and kids who feel more connected to their school, plus systems that made classroom management easier for teachers.
Artifacts
Check-In / Check-Out daily goal sheet, Tier 2 behavior support
Alt: Whiteford Check-In/Check-Out daily goal tracking sheet (de-identified)
Whiteford Break Pass, schoolwide self-regulation routine
Alt: Whiteford Break Pass visual showing the four-step self-regulation routine
Hallway Heroes, class-level positive recognition system
Alt: Hallway Heroes poster explaining how classes earn letters toward a reward
Hallway Hero, staff-facing explainer for the recognition routine
Alt: Hallway Hero staff explainer poster outlining the compliment-to-reward process
Schoolwide Voice Levels chart, consistent expectations 0–4
Alt: Voice Levels visual chart from Silent to Outside Voice with hand-signal cues