Shows
Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 64: Mythbusters — “It’s just a meeting. Everyone knows how to do that.”We’re continuing our Mythbuster series by taking on an assumption that sounds simple enough: “It’s just a meeting. Everyone knows how to do that.” Joining us are two experts whose work with the Team-Initiated Problem Solving (TIPS) framework offers a closer look at what it actually takes to turn team meetings into productive decision-making processes:Dr. Asha Yadav is a researcher with Educational and Community Supports at the University of Oregon whose work with TIPS examines how school teams use data and structured problem solving to make decisions and improve outcomes.Sarah Falcon works with Educational and Comm...
2026-10-2039 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastCrisis Prevention Bonus Series Ep. 4: Measuring What Didn't Happen with Tona and KatieIn this episode of our Crisis Prevention Bonus Series, we’re exploring a tricky question: How do you measure something that didn’t happen? Joining us are two experts who bring perspectives from school-based prevention, behavioral health, and disaster response:Dr. Katie Meyer is a research associate with the Center for Behavioral Education and Research (CBER) at the University of Connecticut. She brings more than 10 years of experience supporting schools in implementing multi-tiered systems of support and is a member of the Center on PBIS Tier 2 and Tier 3 workgroup. Her research and professional interests focus on bridging the gap...
2026-10-1929 min
Schoolin' AroundThe Habits That Keep MTSS Buy-In AliveThis episode explores what happens to MTSS buy-in once the energy of launch wears off. Larissa looks at why buy-in fades in year two, including leadership turnover, competing initiatives, and teachers who submit data and never see what comes of it. She gives listeners a quick checklist to tell whether their school is in the slump. Drawing on her own time as a teacher and coach and on habits from Richardson ISD's MTSS Director, she offers practical ways to keep teams engaged, plus a three-question gut check for your next leadership meeting.Resources:6 Tips for...
2026-09-2914 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 63: Building Positive ClassroomsWe’re continuing our yearlong exploration of the impact of PBIS by looking at where students spend most of their school day: the classroom. Joining us are three experts who created the Promoting Positive Practices in the Classroom webinar series:Dr. Ruthie Payno-Simmons is an international speaker, the owner and executive consultant of RPS Educational Impact, and serves as a director at the Center for Education Equity at Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, where she leads the U.S. Department of Education's Region III Equity Assistance Center. With more than 25 years of experience, Ruthie partners with schools, districts, state education ag...
2026-09-1442 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 62: Improving Outcomes with PBISWe’re kicking off a new season of Expert Instruction and our yearlong exploration of the impact of PBIS. Joining us are four regional partners from the Center on PBIS:Brian Meyer is the co-executive director of the Midwest PBIS Network. From general education to higher education, residential care, to state departments down to the local level, Brian has worked with them all. As a partner with the Center on PBIS, he coordinates technical assistance offered to state education agencies, the National Leadership Forum, the workgroup on Juvenile Justice and Alternative School settings, and internal evaluation supports. Kelly Pe...
2026-08-1742 min
Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastCrisis Prevention Bonus Series Ep 3: Who Owns De-Escalation? Rethinking Adult Systems in School Safety and PBISGuest BiosDr. Ambra GreenDr. Ambra Green is an associate professor of special education within the Teacher and Administrator Preparation Department at The University of Texas at Arlington. She is a national scholar with publications and research focused on students of color with and at-risk for disabilities, issues related to inequitable school practices, behavior disorders, positive behavioral interventions and supports, and teacher use of evidence-based practices. Dr. Kathleen Strickland-CohenDr. Kathleen Strickland-Cohen is an associate professor in special education at the University of Utah. She has extensive experience conducting research...
2026-08-0428 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastCrisis Prevention Bonus Series Ep 2: Ethical Protection Without CriminalizationGuest Bio - Kristin BaileyOriginally from Charleston, Kristin Bailey experienced twenty six hurricane seasons in South Carolina before moving to Denver for work in 2010. She began her work in Denver as a Colorado State Public Defender in Arapahoe County as a dedicated advocate for kid clients. In 2018, she transitioned to Denver Public Schools as part of the in-house counsel team. In this role, Kristin works to keep more kids in schools rather than pushing them into the delinquency system. She devotes every day to helping ensure schools are welcoming, inclusive, and safe environments for all students...
2026-08-0432 min
Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 61: 2025-26 Year in ReviewOver the 2025–26 season of Expert Instruction, we explored how data help schools make better decisions for students. In this year-end reflection episode, Megan Cave and Danielle Triplett look back on the conversations, lessons, and stories that shaped the season. Together, they revisit favorite moments from guests across the PBIS community and reflect on what they learned about prevention, relationships, systems, and data-based decision making.
2026-06-1721 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 60: Mythbusters - Districts Use Your Data as a GotchaWe're coming to you LIVE from the NWPBIS Conference in Tacoma, WA to explore another PBIS myth. Joining us today are Becky Gawenit and Charisse Elliott.Becky is from Battle Ground Public School District in Battle Ground, WA. She's been a part of that district for the last 18 years as either a school psychologist or as a district MTSS coach. Charisse is a behavior program associate with Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Salem, OR. In her role, she works as an advocate for what teachers, students, and families need by focusing on systems to create supportive, inclusive learning environments.
2026-05-1941 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 59: Rethinking Fidelity — Making Behavior Support Plans Work in Real ClassroomsWe continue our exploration of Tier 3 support by focusing on an important and often misunderstood part of behavior support plans: measuring fidelity. Joining us today is Rose Iovannone.• Rose is a research professor at the University of South Florida and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She also serves as director of the University of South Florida Interdisciplinary Center for Evaluation and Intervention, where she supports individuals with complex needs from early childhood through young adulthood. In addition to her research, Rose works closely with educators through training and professional development to support practical, real-world implementation of be...
2026-05-0635 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastCrisis Prevention Bonus Series Ep 1: Belonging as a Crisis Prevention ToolSome of the most important systems and practices you can implement are the proactive things you do to prevent behavior from escalating. This episode is part of a special Crisis Prevention Series produced in partnership with the Center on PBIS Crisis Prevention Workgroup, where we explore how PBIS systems can support schools in preventing, preparing for, and responding to crises.When we talk about preventing crises, we’re talking about: Your response to the needs in your schoolwide communityHow you ensure physical and emotional safety in your buildingThe interventions you implement to support student outcomesHow you he...
2026-03-2632 min
The Educator's BlueprintSeason 5, Episode 8 CS (100): Supporting Students AND Yourself During the Escalation and De-escalation PhasesEffectively managing escalating behaviors while maintaining safety for all is always a challenge regardless of the classroom setting. Listen in on this conversation with Nicole Daigle, an experienced special education teacher currently working in a middle school setting. She will walk you through the escalation/de-escalation phases and provide examples from her vast experience. Nicole emphasizes the importance of establishing strong, positive relationships with your students. Learn to assess what they are trying to communicate to you both verbally and nonverbally through their behavior. Differentiate your responses throughout the de-escalation phases based on what individual students need. The goal i...
2026-03-1826 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 58: Tier 3 Supports in General Education ClassroomsWe continue our exploration of Tier 3 support by focusing on the way systems make it possible to get students the level of support they really need. Joining us today are Mara Lynaugh and Jess Olson. Mara is a member of our PBISApps training team. She brings to the team over 25 years of experience in public education as a special education teacher and a Student Services coach where she supported schools to implement multi-tiered systems and practices focused on meeting students’ social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs. Her passion for helping educators, students, families, and community partners create le...
2026-03-1744 minThe Educator's BlueprintSeason 5, Episode 98: TFI 3.0--A Roadmap to PBIS Action Planning as well as CelebrationSounds like TGIF, but it's not! TFI or Tiered Fidelity Inventory 3.0 is an updated tool that guides schools as they reflect on the implementation of the core features of PBIS for all tiers. Listen in on this conversation with Karen Robbie of the University of Connecticut and Maine PBIS. Karen emphasizes that TFI 3.0 is not about hitting a benchmark or checking a box on a list. It is about progress monitoring, implementation, data-based decision making, and, most importantly, continuous school improvement. Information gained from the new and improved TFI provides a roadmap that guides schools...
2026-02-2535 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 57: Mythbusters - Functional Behavioral Assessment is Only for Special EducationWhen targeted interventions don't improve the behavior you hope to see, what's the next step? Today's guest might tell you to check the function of that behavior. Today, we're talking with Dr. Chris Borgmeier and exploring the myth: Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is a process only meant for special education.Chris is a Professor and the Doctoral Program Director in the College of Education at Portland State University. He is co-author of the Basic FBA to BIP training series and developed the Basic FBA to BIP e-learning series. His research focuses on using multi-tiered systems of support...
2026-02-1738 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 56: Support for Staff Implementing Tier 2 SupportsWhen we talk about Tier 2 support, we usually talk about the support we offer students. Today, we're talking about the ways we support the adults in our building to implement Tier 2 with fidelity...and maybe even a little enthusiasm. Back with us again are our colleagues Dr. Billie Jo Rodriguez and Noah Van Horn.Billie Jo is an Associate Teaching Professor and the School Psychology director of clinical training at the University of Oregon, a nationally certified school psychologist, and a doctoral board-certified behavior analyst. She has over 20 years of experience supporting students with diverse needs and helping sc...
2026-01-2046 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 55: Favorite Things Replay - Tier 2 Decision MakingIn this episode, we're sharing some of our favorite things from past lists...including one of our favorite episodes. This month, we're revisiting a conversation from 2021 with Drs. Erin Chaparro and Ginny Joseph about Tier 2 teams and the foundations of decision making at the Tier 2 level. Dr. Chaparro is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Oregon and the Principal Investigator for the TIPS project. For more than a decade, Erin has worked with districts and schools to implement multi-tiered systems of support for literacy as well as PBIS. She is also the co-author of the...
2025-12-1648 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 54: Mythbusters - Student Behavior is More Significant Now Than EverWe're continuing our year-long series exploring the way data play a crucial role in our PBIS implementation. In this episode, we’re going to put those data to use as we look to address the myth that student behavior is more significant now than ever before. Joining us are Dr. Billie Jo Rodriguez and Noah Van Horn.Billie Jo is an Associate Teaching Professor and the School Psychology director of clinical training at the University of Oregon, a nationally certified school psychologist, and a doctoral board-certified behavior analyst. She has over 20 years of experience supporting students with diverse needs...
2025-11-1854 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 53: Using Data to Improve Student SupportAll this month we’re looking at the ways we can use data to guide our decisions on how to get students the additional support they need sooner. There are some common decision rules your team can follow, but what does that look like in practice? Our guests today will share their experience. Joining us in conversation are Dr. Lisa Friesen from North Kansas City Schools and Jamie Ferguson from Oak Park High School, both in Kansas City, MO. Lisa has been with North Kansas City Schools for 22 years. She is a former elementary and high sc...
2025-10-2140 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 52: The Fundamentals of Data-based Decision MakingIn this episode, we continue the conversation around our year-long theme: Data in PBIS. Collecting data is an important step in your PBIS implementation. Using data to drive decisions is how those data truly come alive. How do you do that? Well, the Team Initiated Problem Solving (TIPS) framework is the only scientifically-based data-based decision making practice available to schools. Joining us today to talk about the fundamentals of the TIPS framework is Dr. Erin Chaparro. Dr. Chaparro is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Oregon and the Principal Investigator for the TIPS project. For...
2025-09-1640 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 51: Why Data Matter in PBISThis episode kicks off PBISApps’ 2025–26 school year theme: data in PBIS. Our guest today is a true PBIS pioneer: Dr. Rob Horner. Dr. Horner is an emeritus professor at the University of Oregon and a key figure in developing PBIS. He brings with him a 40-year history of research, grant management, and systems change efforts related to school reform and PBIS. He has published over 390 professional papers and directed over $200 million dollars in federal grants. Among many past national awards, in 2020 he won the Association of Positive Behavior Support Leadership Award. During our conversation, we talk about the early days...
2025-08-1958 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 50: 2024-25 Year in ReviewIn this episode, we’re looking back at the podcast over the past school year and sharing our favorite episodes and lessons learned. We’ve interviewed 16 guests across nine episodes. Every conversation gave us something to think about and find ways to infuse it in our work moving forward. Today, we wanted to highlight just five of those episodes and encourage you to take another listen over these summer months.To travel back in time to any of these episodes mentioned today, check out the following links:Ep. 43: Mythbusters - Rewards Don't Work to Improve OutcomesEp. 45: Myth...
2025-06-1724 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 49: Mental Health Awareness is a Schoolwide PracticeIn a perfect world, there would be a mental health professional embedded in every school across the country. Students would have immediate access to the support they need and the resources they deserve. The reality is, there is a workforce shortage among mental health providers and community resources are overwhelmed by the need. More students need support than we can serve efficiently. If we could change that outcome, shouldn’t we?That’s exactly what our friends and colleagues at The Ballmer Institute are trying to do! The Ballmer Institute offers an ground breaking undergraduates an opportunity to e...
2025-05-2351 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 48: All Means All – Inclusive Practices in Tier 1 PBISAs we explore what inclusive education means, we need to talk about what it means to create truly inclusive schoolwide systems, data, and practices. If schoolwide means all students have access to the same foundational features, how do you ensure “all” really means “all” in your Tier 1 PBIS implementation? Joining us to help answer this question is Dr. Sheldon Loman from Portland State University (PSU). Sheldon is a Professor in the Special Education Department at PSU. He has a passion for researching and teaching about inclusive practices to support students with extensive support needs. Most recently...
2025-04-1540 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 47: Cultivating a Culture of Belonging in Your ClassroomJoin us this month with guest Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims as we discuss how to cultivate a culture of belonging in your classroom. Using the elements of PBIS, Dr. Hollins-Sims helps us break down how students thrive at school when they feel they belong. For starters, the ABCs of student wellbeing, Agency, Belonging and Connectedness, have a tremendous influence on whether students feel like they are part of your school. When educators focus on cultivating each of these components in their classroom climate through greetings, exercises and class culture, students thrive. We also visit how your own SWIS data results...
2025-03-1841 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 46: Creating Equitable PBIS Solutions that Work for All StudentsAs we explore what it means to achieve equitable solutions in PBIS implementation, we start by defining what equity looks like. So, what happens when our definitions of equity are different from each other? In this episode, learn how one coach successfully collaborates with the whole schoolwide community to create shared definitions and equitable systems that work for everyone.Joining us is Mari Meador from the University of Washington’s School Mental Health Assessment Research and Training (SMART) Center. As an implementation coach, Mari supports schools in their implementation efforts. She has been a PBIS state facilitator, an...
2025-02-1846 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 45: Mythbusters – Students Today Don’t Care About School Like They Used ToWhether its students clutching their phones or endlessly scrolling YouTube shorts, there is a sense student apathy is real and rampant. In this episode, we’re out to bust the myth that students today just don’t care about school like they used to. Joining us are Marisa Cardenas-Joslyn and Aydree, from Silverado High School in Mission Viejo, CA. Our colleague and friend, Mimi McGrath Kato is also a special guest cohost today while Danielle Triplett is out of the office. Marisa is a member of the Silverado’s PBIS team and an instructional coach supporting teachers and ad...
2025-01-2142 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 44: Closing Out 2024 with Hilarious Stories from the ClassroomIn this episode, we’ve tracked down some hilarious teacher stories from around the internet about the goofy things students say and do in school. From fart jokes, to the 1990s as the “old days,” to a student bringing in a live goat, this podcast will have you in stitches. The guests this month are our very own PBISApps trainer Nadia Sampson and Customer Support Manager Diertra Lomeli. Give it a listen and enjoy your winter break!
2024-12-1727 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp 43: Mythbusters – Rewards Don’t Work to Improve OutcomesWe’re back with another episode of Mythbusters where we explore some of the critiques about PBIS. Along with our guests, we’ll declare the criticisms true or busted! The myth we’ll explore today is: Rewards don’t work to improve student outcomes. Joining us in our conversation are Erica Bauer, Joya Mitchell, and Jaymz Keller Jr. Erica is a school counselor and the Green Local School District’s PBIS coordinator. Joya is the Student Services Director at Green Local Schools. She’s been an educator for over 20 years working in both special education and as an as...
2024-11-1948 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 42: Creating and Sustaining Positive School ClimateThere’s a feeling you get when you walk into a school. You get a sense for the kind of place it is when you look at the people’s faces, or the way the light that comes through the windows. It’s even in the colors and art on the walls in the hallway. This intangible thing is your school’s climate and it’s something you co-create with your schoolwide community.In this episode of Expert Instruction, we’re joined by three educators who know how to create that positive school climate we all want to experienc...
2024-10-1548 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 41: How to Sustain PBIS in the Long TermWhen educators are in the classroom day after day, year after year, the focus on fresh authentic, genuine PBIS implementation gets harder. In this episode, we’re talking about how to adapt, evolve, and continuously improve your efforts over the long term. Joining us in conversation are the three co-directors of the Center on PBIS.Dr. Brandi Simonsen is a professor of Special Education in the Department of Educational Psychology at University of Connecticut. She is also the co-principle investigator of the National Multi-Tiered System of Supports Research Network. She's an advocate for supporting educator implementation across a...
2024-09-1739 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 40: 2023-24 Year in ReviewIn this episode, we’re looking back at every podcast we had over the past school year and sharing our favorite episodes and lessons learned. We’ve interviewed 16 guests across nine episodes. Every conversation gave us something to think about and find ways to infuse it in our work moving forward. Today, we wanted to highlight just five of those episodes and encourage you to take another listen over these summer months. To travel back in time to any of these episodes mentioned today, check out the following links: Ep. 32: The Fundamentals of Schoolwide Teams
2024-06-1825 min
PBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 23 Reflections on PBIS: Celebrating Growth and ProgressEver wondered how two educators with no podcasting experience managed to craft 22 episodes packed with insights on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)? Join Dianne Ferrell and Diane Ruff as they recount their journey on PBIS Journey to Genius, highlighting memorable conversations and moments. Listen to Michelle Nervo share her expertise on blending diverse school philosophies, and hear from kindergarten teacher and PBIS coach Mrs. Roach, who focuses on nurturing student leadership over material rewards. Celebrate the evolution of PBIS with us and discover how our approach has adapted over time thanks to valuable listener and expert connections.
2024-06-1023 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp 39: Action Planning with Year-End DataBy the end of the school year, you have a lot of data at your fingertips. There are two important actions to take. The first is to share it with your schoolwide community as part of your annual PBIS evaluation. The second is to plan how you’ll build on your success next year. In this episode, we’re talking about what it takes to evaluate PBIS implementation and use data to create an action plan at the end of the year. Joining us in our conversation are Diane LaMaster, Michele Cook, and Kim Barker. Dian...
2024-05-2141 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 22 Highlighting Triumphs of Youth with Student-Driven Achievement BindersWhile Dianne basks in the Florida sun, I’m here to take you through an intimate exploration of student empowerment. Imagine a tool so transformative that it allows children to witness their own unfolding potential; that's the magic we're discussing today through the voices of these young leaders. These remarkable students open their leadership binders and let us peek inside their academic and personal growth journeys, showing us just how powerful taking charge of one's own progress can be. Whether it's mastering the realm of mathematics or setting meaningful behavior goals, these binders are more than mere organizational tools—they...
2024-04-3014 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 21 Building a Blueprint for Student Success with Granville's PBIS ModelHave you ever wondered what draws someone into the world of education? In our latest episode of PBIS: Journey to Genius, we had the pleasure of hosting Tracy Stewart and Travis Morris from Granville Elementary, who revealed to us their heartfelt tales of entering the educational sphere. Tracy's lineage is steeped in teaching tradition, while Travis' path was less direct, yet both are united by a passion for nurturing the next generation. They shared with us the simple, everyday moments that affirm their commitment to their roles, and the profound impact of fostering genuine connections within their school community.
2024-04-2329 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp 38: Mythbusters - There Are Some Students Skewing Our Schoolwide DataHave you heard this before in your teams: If we removed these students from our schoolwide data, our trends would look better. In this episode, we’re tackling the myth that some students’ behavior data skew our schoolwide data. Joining us in this conversation are Rayann Silva and Mari Meador from the University of Washington’s School Mental Health Assessment Research and Training (SMART) Center. Rayann has done it all in education. From classroom teacher to district administrator, to state/regional school mental health training and technical assistance provider, she centers social-emotional well-being in every role she holds...
2024-04-1636 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp 38 : Mythbusters - There Are Some Students Skewing Our Schoolwide DataHave you heard this before in your teams: If we removed these students from our schoolwide data, our trends would look better. In this episode, we’re tackling the myth that some students’ behavior data skew our schoolwide data. Joining us in this conversation are Rayann Silva and Mari Meador from the University of Washington’s School Mental Health Assessment Research and Training (SMART) Center. Rayann has done it all in education. From classroom teacher to district administrator, to state/regional school mental health training and technical assistance provider, she centers social-emotional well-being in every role she holds...
2024-04-1636 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 20 Celebrating the Legacy of Phil Heflin: PBIS and the Art of Inspiration in High School EducationEmbark on an educational odyssey with the wisdom of Phil Heflin, a retired educator whose 37-year legacy is marked by transforming lives within the classroom walls. Our latest episode captures the heartwarming tales of a man whose journey from academic hardship to beloved teacher and administrator embodies the spirit of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Phil's stories resonate with the power of personal connections, the moments that spark a student's passion, and the gentle art of acknowledgment that can turn an ordinary classroom into a haven of inspiration.High school may seem like a tough nut...
2024-04-1624 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 19 Inspiring Intrinsic Motivation in Second Graders through PBIS and Leadership ToolsEver wondered how the delicate art of positive reinforcement can ignite a child’s intrinsic motivation? Let us take you by the hand and walk you through the enchanting world of PBIS, where our second-grade heroes, Lynda Jones and Susan Zifer, weave tales of triumph, heartfelt reasons for choosing the teaching path and the sheer magic of personalized acknowledgment systems. Their approach isn’t just about doling out rewards; it’s about using peer interactions and the power of recognition to foster strong relationships and encourage students to take ownership of their behavior and learning.Imagine a place...
2024-04-0926 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 37: Choosing the Right Application to Track Your PBIS ImplementationThere are two primary questions every team should ask related to their PBIS implementation: Are we doing what we said we would do? (Fidelity) How does our implementation affect the people in our school? (Outcomes)Because PBIS is an evidence-based framework, you know there are data to help you answer these questions. Which brings us to today’s topic: How do you choose a system to store and monitor the fidelity and outcome data you collect? Joining us today to help us answer that question are Diertra Lomeli and Seth May. Diertra is the PBISApps Cu...
2024-03-1940 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 18 Igniting a PBIS Movement for Transformative Education at Dover IntermediateDiscover the heartwarming stories and innovative strategies behind Dover Avenue Elementary's transformation in student behavior management. Join us as Katie and Mary the dynamic duo from Dover, unravel their personal journeys into the world of education, driven by deep-rooted passions and family legacies. Katie's transition from classroom to administration, fueled by her innate leadership qualities, and Mary's candid reflections on the daily rollercoaster of teaching fifth-grade math, weave together a narrative of commitment and empathy. As we unravel the complexities of handling challenging behaviors, we celebrate the collaborative spirit that empowers the Dover Avenue Elementary community to rise above a...
2024-03-1222 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 17 Inspiring Academic Growth: The Power of Personalized Recognition and Leadership Binders in PBISDiscover how a heartfelt tale of triumph over fractions can change the way we approach education. This episode brings you the inspiring voice of Autumn Thomas, a fifth-grade educator with a decade-plus of experience, who joins Dianne Ferrell and me to share her story and strategies for harnessing the power of personalized acknowledgment to inspire a love for learning in students. We discuss Autumn's transformative 10-day reward system and dive into the magic of consistent positive reinforcement in shaping not only behavior but the future of our children.Ever wondered how to capture a student's academic journey...
2024-03-0525 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 16 Innovative Approaches to Discipline with PBIS PrinciplesUnlock the secrets of innovative student behavior management with Minerva Elementary's reflection room, guided by the wisdom of PBIS principles. Dianne Ferrell and I, Diane Ruff, explore how the calm of reflection can transform student behavior, sharing our "three Rs" strategy that empowers students to reflect, reset, and return to class with a fresh perspective. Our conversation dismantles the myth that PBIS is synonymous with leniency, shining a light on constructive, instructional consequences that pave the way for meaningful behavior change. Inspired by insights from the "Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design" podcast, we reveal how to craft consequences...
2024-02-2726 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 36: Culturally Sustaining PracticesFor PBIS implementation to feel authentic to your school’s culture, it’s important to ask your larger schoolwide community for their feedback about the systems and practices you’ve put in place AND to use that feedback to improve your implementation.In this episode, Dr. Ambra Green joins us to talk about how you can implement the foundational features of PBIS to create culturally sustaining, truly inclusive spaces. Ambra is an Associate Professor of Special Education at The University of Texas at Arlington. She is a national scholar with publications and research focused on studen...
2024-02-2041 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 15 Reflect, Reorganize, Return: The Reflection Room's Role in PBIS SuccessEmbark on a transformative journey with Dianne Ferrell and me, Diane Ruff, as we pull back the curtain on our pioneering PBIS system. Our special guest, educational aide Nicole Sell, lends her expertise, sharing how a simple idea I proposed during my assistant principal interview led to the creation of the Reflection Room—a sanctuary for emotional and behavioral recalibration. We delve into the nuances of managing behaviors through sensory strategies and how even the most restless student can find solace and a path back to focused learning within the walls of this innovative space.As we tr...
2024-02-2026 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 14 Guiding a District to Excellence: The PBIS Transformation with Erica BauerEmbark on an educational odyssey with Erica Bauer, the heart and soul behind Green Local Schools' remarkable shift towards a nurturing and conducive learning atmosphere. As a school counselor and the mastermind coordinating PBIS district-wide, Erica joins us, along with Diane Ruff and Dianne Ferrell to unfold the narrative of how positive reinforcement and strategic behavioral supports can revolutionize a school district. We celebrate the triumphs and discuss the texture of the journey that led to the successful implementation of Tier 1 support systems and recognition through esteemed awards. With a passionate emphasis on forging strong relationships within the school...
2024-02-1321 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 13 Unlocking Student Potential with Effective PBIS PracticesJourney with us as we navigate the transformative landscape of PBIS, where we have an illuminating chat with a seasoned high school assistant principal. Discover the profound effects of a well-crafted school-wide matrix, the lighthouse for expected student behavior, and the marvels of positive reinforcement when consistently applied from the classroom to the corridors. We pull back the curtain to reveal the intricate dance between office-managed and classroom-managed behaviors, sharing inside knowledge on creating a unified front in behavior management that resonates throughout the school's culture.Embark on a deeper exploration of behavior management artistry and the...
2024-02-0625 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 12 Fostering Educational Excellence: The PBIS Success Story at Malvern ElementaryUnlock the secrets to cultivating an educational oasis where students thrive behaviorally and academically. Our esteemed guest, Danielle Hawk, the principal of Malvern Elementary, brings to light the transformative effects of building strong relationships and a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system in the school setting. As we unpack her evolution from a middle school math teacher to a beacon of leadership, you'll learn how genuine connections with students can reshape an entire educational experience. Danielle's narrative reveals that recognizing and addressing the unique needs of each child isn't just a lofty ideal—it's a practical strategy that up...
2024-01-3017 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 11 Positive Reinforcement Revolution: The PBIS Journey at Washington High with Renee ParrUnlock the potential of positive reinforcement in education with Renee Parr, the passionate Assistant Principal of Washington High School, as she sheds light on the transformative effects of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Through her lens, we explore an educational philosophy that emphasizes what students should do, not what they shouldn't, and how this has revolutionized the learning atmosphere at Washington High. Prepare to be inspired by Renee's heartwarming stories from her 32-year career that underscore the inherent goodness in students and the importance of celebrating their achievements, whether on the sports field or in career tech programs.
2024-01-2325 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 10: Unveiling the Transformative Journey of PBIS from Primary to Upper GradesImagine transforming your teaching approach to nurture every student's potential as they progress through school. That's precisely the mission Carol Mieroff champions, and she's joining us to share her wisdom on the transition from primary to upper grades within the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports system. With a personal narrative of becoming the teacher she once needed, Carol's insights bridge the gap between creating lasting student relationships and implementing effective recognition strategies that resonate with older children. Her poignant story of a former student's message, 25 years in the making, exemplifies the enduring influence a teacher can have....
2024-01-1732 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 35: Mythbusters – There Are No Consequences in PBISToday, we’re bringing you another installment in our mythbuster series. In October, we tackled the myth that PBIS is only about rewards. Spoiler alert: Rewards are part of it, but there’s more to it than the myth suggests. In this episode, we’re exploring the myth: There are no consequences in PBIS. Back again to help us bust this myth is Dr. Kent McIntosh.Kent is the Philip H. Knight Chair of Special Education at the University of Oregon and the Director at PBISApps. He is also Co-Director of the Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Su...
2024-01-1641 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 9 Classroom Acknowledgement System: Insights from a Kindergarten TeacherWhat if you had the power to transform classroom behavior and build powerful relationships with your students? Breathe life into theory as we sit down with kindergarten teacher Erin Roach, who shares her real-world experiences in implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in her classroom. We'll kickstart the journey at the heart of PBIS, the boot camp, where Erin reveals the importance of teaching and practicing procedures with students to create a solid foundation. She also takes you through the intriguing concept of 10-day rewards and the secrets behind the tier one acknowledgment system.In the...
2023-12-1224 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEPISODE 8 PBIS Boot Camp: Where Theory Comes to LifeEver wondered why your child’s school places so much emphasis on something called PBIS? What if we told you that it’s the key to managing student behavior and promoting a positive learning environment? Join us today as we unravel the mysteries behind the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) system in schools and explain how crucial data is in guiding its implementation. We'll share insights into the use of programs like SWIS for data assessment and an inside look at how we create an expected behavior matrix for different school zones.Let's paint a picture toge...
2023-12-0527 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 34: PBIS Conferences as Professional DevelopmentA system-level feature of your PBIS implementation involves the professional development you offer to all staff. Many of us take advantage of conferences to receive professional development, especially related to our PBIS implementation. We love a good conference. We also know lecture-style learning alone isn’t enough to sustain the outcomes we want to achieve. We wondered what it would look like to leverage our conference experience to supplement our on-going professional learning. We called on some conference organizers for our favorite PBIS conferences to see what they had to say about this idea. Joining us...
2023-11-2136 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 7 PBIS and the Magic of Data: A Tale of Changing Student BehaviorHave you ever wondered how data can be used to positively influence behavior management in schools? Join us for an engaging discussion with Becky Miller, Assistant Principal at Minerva Elementary, as we uncover the truth. With her admirable passion for children and love for data, Becky transitioned from the classroom to administration to take her mission to the next level. During our enlightening chat, Becky opens up about the integral role of data in Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS). She provides an intriguing glimpse into the workings of Minerva Elementary, with an example of how behavior data h...
2023-11-2129 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 6 The Power of Teacher Buy-InEver wonder what it takes to build a resilient and effective educational system? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Christine Hunt, a seasoned educator with 28 years of experience in our district, as we journey through her personal experiences, challenges, and rewarding moments. She enlightens us on her 'why' for choosing education as a career, a passion ignited by an influential third grade teacher, and her 'AHA moment' when she realized the pivotal role of student-teacher relationships in fostering success.As we navigate through Christine's journey, we tackle the challenging task she faced when two schools in...
2023-11-1427 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 5 A Voice With ChoiceWhat does it take to become a teacher and navigate the complexities of different school environments? Kendra Peterson, a seasoned educator who's journeyed with us from the start of the PBIS system, joins us to shed light on her path to teaching and the significant role educators play in shaping future teachers. Kendra's personal experience, from her childhood fascination with school to a high school teacher's words of encouragement, inspired her to step into the world of teaching. In this episode, she opens up about her 'aha moment' during her first year of teaching, and the overwhelming sense of...
2023-11-0726 minPBIS Journey to GeniusPBIS the NUTS and BOLTS OF IT!What if there was a way to create a school environment that promotes good behavior, not by punishing the bad, but by positively reinforcing the good? Picture a school in which staff have a substantial say in shaping a framework to maintain discipline and order, a place where rules are clear, expectations are high, and equity is the order of the day. This is the promise of Positive Behavior, Intervention, and Support (PBIS), and that's what we're discussing in this insightful episode. As we progress, we take the PBIS concept into the classroom, shedding light on the i...
2023-10-2619 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 33: Mythbusters – PBIS is Just About Rewards and TokensWe’re back with the second installment of our Expert Instruction Mythbusters series. Today we’re exploring the myth: “PBIS is just about rewards and tokens.” Joining us in conversation is Dr. Kent McIntosh.Kent is the Philip H. Knight Chair of Special Education at the University of Oregon and the Director at PBISApps. He is also Co-Director of the Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. His current research focuses on increasing racial equity in school discipline, and implementation and sustainability of systems for social, emotional, and behavior support in schools.During our discussion, we explo...
2023-10-1747 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 3 Part 2 The Struggle is RealIn this episode, Dianne, Diane and Michelle share how change is most effective when teachers are part of the process.https://www.pbisapps.org/articles/episode-35
2023-10-1719 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 2 Part 1 The Struggle Is RealIn this episode the Struggle Is Real, Dianne and Diane, along with their guest Michele Nervo share the struggles of consolidating two elementaries. Join them to learn about the mistakes that were made and what they learned from that experience. We would love to hear from you! Email us at pbisjourneytogenius@gmail.comhttps://www.pbisapps.org/articles/episode-35
2023-10-1023 minPBIS Journey to GeniusEpisode 1 Why PBISWelcome to PBIS Our Journey to Genius. In this episode, you will meet Dianne Ferrell and Diane Ruff. They share how they got started on the amazing journey of transformation. They would love to hear from you! Email them @ pbisjourneytogenius@gmail.com. https://youtu.be/pb7_YJp9bVA?si=Y21QigTcAGgoIty8https://www.pbisapps.org/articles/episode-35
2023-10-0324 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 32: The Fundamentals of Schoolwide TeamsTwo system-level, foundational features of PBIS implementation relate to your schoolwide team — specifically who’s on it and how it operates. While research tells us team-based decision making is an effective practice, it can’t pinpoint exactly which practices contribute to that success. , That’s because what makes teams so great has a lot to do with how well they fit within the culture and context of their schoolwide community.So what does a schoolwide PBIS team look like? How does it work? We invited our colleague Danielle Triplett to join us today to share some of her expe...
2023-09-1954 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 31: Mythbusters - Students Don't Need to be Taught How to Behave, Do They?PBIS has its skeptics — folks who just aren’t so sure the framework is useful. It’s fair to question things and criticisms push us to think about how our implementation can be more inclusive. When you hear a critique or even a misperception, how do you respond?We thought we’d help you out. Today’s episode of Expert Instruction is the first in our new series: PBIS Mythbusters. Mythbusters was a television series where the two hosts, Adam and Jamie, would use science to test a myth and determine once and for all if it was...
2023-08-1541 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 30: 2023 Year in ReviewWho’s ready for summer? Literally every hand in our office is up…maybe yours is, too. The end of the year is the perfect time to tie up loose ends, pack up your things, and look back on everything you accomplished. Reflection is an active process — one that keeps our work fresh and helps us improve from year to year — and it’s what we’re doing today.In this episode, we’re looking back at every conversation we had over the past school year and sharing our favorite highlights and lessons learned. We’ve interviewed 21 guests across 10...
2023-06-2020 minThe Educator's BlueprintEpisode 56: A Conversation with Dr. Kent McIntosh!Join us as we chat Dr. Kent McIntosh!! We talk about everything from equity, revitalizing systems and strategies with student voice, and the importance of regularly measuring fidelity of implementation as a practice with consideration of strengths and next steps. “Systems are what we create. They are not static”. -KentResources/Links: TFI 3.0 - Participate in StudyPbis.org/equityPBISApps/SWISWant to be a guest on the show? Submit here.
2023-05-3052 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 29: Integrating Mental Health Supports in Your PBIS FrameworkThis month, we’re taking the opportunity to explore the ways schools embed school mental health within their existing PBIS framework through a process called the Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF). The ISF offers you a way to take advantage of the expertise within your larger schoolwide community, add it to the systems, practices, and data accessible on your PBIS teams, and get students the comprehensive support they need. In this episode, we’re talking to two people who have done just that. Megan Schultz is the community coordinator for an organization called The 15th Night —"a youth...
2023-05-171h 02Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 28: Dosing Up Schoolwide SupportTeachers across the country say the number of behaviors they manage in the classroom is up this year compared to before the pandemic. We know the first step to improving behavior trends schoolwide is to verify your Tier 1 systems and practices are fully in place. When you’ve verified they are and behavior trends continue to rise, what can you do? In this episode of Expert Instruction, learn how to increase schoolwide support by infusing it with a dose Tier 2 critical elements.Joining the conversation are Dr. Billie Jo Rodriquez and Noah Van Horn.Billie Jo is...
2023-04-1844 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 27: Bonus Episode - Defining BehaviorSurprise! It’s our first bonus episode of Expert Instruction! We’ve been working as a team to bring some new labels and language to the Schoolwide Information System (SWIS). As part of that work, we revisited the category label definitions and gave them a refresh. As that project comes to completion, we realized the work overlapped with the conversations we’ve had over the last two months.When you talk about solutions to disrupt vulnerable decision points, defining behavior — both what it looks like and the options available to address it — is on the list. We had to get...
2023-03-2128 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 27: Neutralizing Vulnerable Decision PointsIn this episode of Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design Podcast, we’re continuing the conversation from last month’s episode about vulnerable decision points (VDP). Drs. Maria Reina Santiago-Rosaria and Sean Austin are back to share how we can disrupt our decision making in those moments.Today we’re talking about neutralizing routines: brief, step-by-step processes to make our quick decisions more deliberate. During our conversation, we recognized the overlaps between these routines and those we explored in previous episodes related to de-escalation. While both require us to become more present in the moment, neutralizing routines are specifically design...
2023-03-2143 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp 26: Vulnerable Decision PointsIn this month’s episode of Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design Podcast, we’re diving further into the research and practices surrounding vulnerable decisions points (VDPs). Over in our Teach by Design article, we shared how you can find the VDPs contributing to the disproportionate outcomes you see in your data, but why do we even focus on VDPs in decision making in the first place? Joining us to help answer that question are Drs. María Reina Santiago-Rosario and Sean Austin. In her research, María focuses on racial equity in school discipline, measuring teacher expect...
2023-02-2141 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 25: A Coaching ConversationWe’ve mentioned before the important role coaches play in your PBIS implementation. They help hold you and your team accountable, facilitate your meetings, walk you through intervention options, and guide you through the process of making the systems and practices match your unique context. Coaches are valuable members of any implementation effort, and yet, we haven’t spent much time exploring what it means to be a coach.In this episode of Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design Podcast, we’re talking with two coaches about what it’s been like to support schools and districts to susta...
2023-01-1848 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 24: The Benefits of PlayThis month’s Teach by Design article introduced the continuum of play and how to embed play-based learning in your classrooms. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at one specific type of play on the continuum. Today, we’re talking about free play.Free play is that dedicated time in the day where your students get to move and explore in unstructured space free of any adult interference. In schools, most of us call it recess! Our students love it, and yet there never seems to be enough time dedicated to it. But what if we...
2022-11-1544 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 23: How to De-escalate Student BehaviorThis episode of Expert Instruction is the second in our 2-part series about de-escalation. Last episode, we spoke with Dr. Kathleen Strickland-Cohen and Alex Newsom about the school-wide strategies you can put in place to help prevent behaviors from escalating in the classroom. We know it would be impossible to prevent 100% of behaviors from getting bigger. So, what happens when those prevention strategies aren’t enough? What can you do to de-escalate a behavior before it becomes a crisis?We invited Ami Flammini and Brian Meyer from the Midwest PBIS Network to help us answer those questions. Th...
2022-10-1949 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 22: School-wide Strategies for Preventing Escalated BehaviorIn this episode of Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design Podcast, we’re kicking off a two-part series about de-escalating the behaviors you see in your school. Today, we’re exploring the school-wide, classroom-wide systems and practices you can leverage to prevent problem behaviors from escalating in the first place.Joining us today are two of the authors of a recently published practice brief from The Center on PBIS, Dr. Kathleen Strickland-Cohen and Alex Newson.Kathleen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Utah and a Doctoral-level Board Cert...
2022-09-2050 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 21: Benefits & Examples of Creating a School-wide Purpose StatementWe all have a reason compelling us to get up and go to work in the morning. Our personal purpose plays a big role in how engaged we are in the work we do. Defining your why is a hot topic of conversation these days, and it’s an important thing to do. Equally important is defining your school’s organizational purpose, but it’s not something we talk as much about.In today’s episode of Expert Instruction, we’re answering the questions: What is a school-wide purpose statement? Why is a purpose statement important? How do you...
2022-08-1637 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 20: 2022 Year in ReviewAt the end of any project, it feels right to pause and reflect. The end of the school year is no different. We’re all ready for a break and some relaxation, preferably by a pool, with something cold to sip. It’s also important to take a little time to reflect on everything you did over the course of the past school year. The process of looking back on your accomplishments isn’t selfish, it’s the key to improving the way you do anything in the future.So, that’s what we’re doing today. We’re lookin...
2022-06-2120 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 19: Post-conference Wrap-up 2022This spring, we were fortunate enough to attend not one, not two, but three, in-person PBIS conferences. We know scheduling conflicts and budget constraints can get in the way of making it possible for everyone to register. So, this month we decided to take some time to share our conference experiences, the conversations we had, and the things we learned during our time at these events. In our Teach by Design article, we’ve got a list of 12 tips and tricks we picked up from conference sessions devoted to social-emotional learning and mental health. In today’s Expe...
2022-05-1740 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 18: The Fundamentals of Data-driven DecisionsWhat does data-driven decision making mean to you? In this month’s Teach by Design, we showed you how researchers found it means something different depending on who you ask. What works for one school may not work for another, but we were also curious to know whether there were some components of a decision-making process that might be similar across most contexts.In today’s episode of Expert Instruction, we’re exploring those decision-making fundamentals – the components of your decision-making model that make your team more efficient and your solutions more effective.Joining us is Dr. J...
2022-04-1943 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 17: How to Create an Action PlanNo matter where you are on your implementation journey, at some point you’ll want to take a step back and ask yourselves, “Are we doing what we said we’d do and is that effort having the kind of impact we hoped it would have?” Answering those questions requires data. Once you’ve collected the data you need, the next step is to create a plan. On today’s episode of Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design Podcast, we invited two experts to share their action-planning strategies. Hear how they guide teams to use data, focus their proble...
2022-03-1544 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 16: Adding Student Voice to Leadership TeamsOn today’s episode of Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design Podcast, we continue our exploration of how to add student perspectives to the decisions effecting schools every day. We’ve shared ideas for how to include students at the school level, but what about at the district level? What does it look like for students to be involved in decisions that effect not only the way their school operates, but how all schools operate within their area?Zachary Patterson knows.Zachary is a senior at University City High School in San Diego, CA and the very firs...
2022-02-1533 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 15: Uplifting Student Voices in ImplementationAfter the annual PBIS Leadership Forum held this October, I caught up on some of the sessions I missed by watching the recordings. I came across a presentation called “Youth Speaking Up About Inequity: Their Experiences Through Their Own Voices” given by Dr. Felicia Singleton and Marcus Jackson. The two of them presented on the ways they have engaged and uplifted students’ voices in their county to address the systems contributing to the inequities students experienced. Specifically, San Diego County Office of Education hosted a series of student panels, moderated by university students, and attended by adults from around the reg...
2022-01-1842 min
DatabasEDMichael Gottfried and Kent McIntosh on education research and practice using transactional data (attendance and discipline/behavior)In this episode, we talk with Dr. Michael Gottfried, applied economist at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Kent McIntosh, professor at the University of Oregon and co-director of the US Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs’ National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Dr. Gottfried and Dr. McIntosh are experts on the use of transactional attendance and discipline/behavior data, respectively, in educational research and practice. We hear about their recent research findings and how these findings can be used by school and district staff to reduce inequitable outcomes among students by r...
2022-01-101h 03Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 14: Relieving Staff Stress with System-level SolutionsIn this episode of Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design Podcast, we’re talking about stress – specifically the stress so many adults in education feel right now. Our guests are Susan Barrett and Dr. Kimberly Yanek from the Center for Social Behavior Support at Old Dominion and the Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Together, they will share tangible strategies for tackling problems at the system level that contribute to the stress so many in education feel right now. They’ve even got some solutions to start implementing today!For more information about some of the...
2021-11-1640 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 13: The Who, Why, & How of Tier 2 Decision-MakingEvery October, you can expect us to talk about the October Catch – a way for your school-wide teams to use referral data to identify students who might benefit from additional supports. The October Catch is the first step in a process to get students the resources they need when they need them. What comes next? How does a student’s name end up on a Tier 2 team’s meeting agenda? How do you know which intervention is a good fit? In this episode of Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design Podcast, we’re talking about Tier 2 teams and the...
2021-10-1938 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 12: Effects of Stress in the ClassroomYou are teachers. Stress comes with the territory. However, the stress we’re under this year feels different. It’s more complex. There are multiple sources of pressure and there isn’t an end date on the horizon. It’s one thing to handle the stress that comes and goes in a typical year; handling chronic stress is something else entirely. The pandemic has compounded the effect stress has on your students, to the point where you’re likely to see more unwanted behavior crop up in your classroom this year.In this month’s Teach by Design, we o...
2021-09-2041 min
Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 11 Creating a Welcoming ClassroomThe last year and a half brought a lot of lessons, maybe the most important of which is the way we build relationships with each other. Now is the perfect time to talk about going beyond welcoming students and start creating radically welcoming classrooms.In this episode of Expert Instruction, our guest is Saki Malose, a research assistant from the University of Oregon’s College ofEducation. Saki is an experienced educator and scholar. In her current project, the Inclusive Skill-building Learning Approach (ISLA), Saki works as part of a team of researchers helping schools implement an instructional ap...
2021-08-1641 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 10: More Wins From a Weird YearAfter a weird year like we had in the 2020-21 school year, we wanted to take some time to showcase the things that went better than you thought they’d go. We reached out to our PBISApps community and asked you to submit your wins. Some stories appeared in our Teach by Design article this month; the rest you’ll hear in this episode. We sat down with three schools from across the country to hear more about how this year didn’t stop them from creating community and building relationships in spite of the distance. Horace M...
2021-06-1537 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 9: Supporting School-Wide Mental HealthMay is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health America is using this May to build upon last year's "Tools 2 Thrive" campaign by sharing “practical tools that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase their resiliency regardless of their personal situation." Susan Barrett and Dr. Brandi Simonsen from The Center on PBIS jumped right on top of the theme and started a social media campaign called #SchoolWellnessPBIS on Facebook and Twitter. With online spaces flooded with resources around how to support mental health in schools, their goal was to curate a list of tips and resources for inco...
2021-05-1831 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp 8: How PBIS Practices Helped Us Through the PandemicIn this episode, we’re joined by three experts who share with us their experiences using PBIS to guide them through the crisis of the last year.Jennifer Bouckaert is the District Supervisor of Culture and Climate at Southbridge Public Schools in Southbridge, MA. She is a licensed School Adjustment Counselor and has worked in Southbridge for about six years supporting PBIS implementation within the district. Kitty Clemens is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Associate Director at Cedarhurst School. Cedarhurst is a therapeutic middle and high school serving students from all over Connecticut wh...
2021-04-2142 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 7: The I Am M.O.R.E. ProjectIn this episode of Expert Instruction, we're joined by Renee Mitchell, the visionary behind the I Am M.O.R.E. project. (M.O.R.E. stands for Making Ourselves Resilient Everyday.) I Am M.O.R.E. came out of Renee's work helping students at Roosevelt High School write their personal essays for scholarships and college applications. One year, of the four Portland students awarded $16,000 scholarships, three came from her class. That's when she realized something: there is power in students telling their own stories. By reframing their hardships as assets, and validating their experiences, her students began...
2021-03-1644 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 6: Implicit BiasIn this episode of Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design Podcast, our guest is Dr. Erik Girvan from the University of Oregon School of Law. Dr. Girvan's research focuses on how sterotypes, attitudes, and other biases might impact the decisions you make in schools. He joined us to talk specifically about implicit bias: the automatic, unconscious associations we make about people and their social roles. Addressing the way these biases make their way into our school policies and procedures is exactly the kind of work we need to do in order to create supportive environments.During our di...
2021-02-1656 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 5: Voice's Role in ImplementationIn this episode of Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design Podcast, we continue the conversation we started in November about culturally responsive practices in PBIS implementation. We are joined by three experts to explore the role of including student, family, and community voices in your implementation. Dr. Jennifer Rose is a psychologist with Loyola Community and Family Services, a mental health clinic providing services for children and families in the Chicagoland area. In her advocacy work, she supports children impacted by exclusionary disciplinary policies as well as students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs). As a nationally certified school psych...
2021-01-1954 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 4: School Culture vs. ClimateThis month, we kick off our series about culturally responsive practices in PBIS implementation. In Teach by Design, we defined what we mean when we say a school is culturally responsive; we explored how to use data to determine the impact your existing systems and practices have on specific student groups; and we used Dr. Christopher Emdin’s idea of “content + context” to embed student identity in implementation.When your school is culturally responsive, you hold all students to high expectations, and you use their cultures to enhance their learning. What do you do when your schoolwide expecta...
2020-11-1731 min
Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 3: Restorative Practices During Distance LearningIn this month’s Teach by Design post, we explored how to use effective classroom management practices as a way to prevent suspensions during distance learning. Sometimes, in spite of our best efforts to manage them, misbehaviors escalate. What is an alternative to exclusionary discipline like suspensions and expulsions? In this month’s Expert Instruction episode, we’re talking all about restorative practices. We are joined by: Dr. Rhonda Nese, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences and the principal investigator of a research project called ISLA: an instructional alternativ...
2020-10-2248 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 2: Making Virtual Meetings Work For Your TeamOur September issue of Teach by Design is all about the small changes teams can make to create big impacts on the way they conduct their virtual team meetings. When I first started researching the topic, I knew I needed to check in with Dr. Erin Chaparro. Erin runs a research project called TIPS EdTECH - a project to develop a suite of online tools to help teams in their mission to create more efficient, effective team meetings. I called her up a few weeks ago and out of that 30-minute conversation came ideas like changing the team meeting ti...
2020-09-1523 minExpert Instruction: The Teach by Design PodcastEp. 1: Adapting Practices for Distance LearningToday we launch the first episode of Expert Instruction: The Teach by Design Podcast. In this episode, we wanted to explore one of the six back-to-basics strategies we listed in our August Teach by Design article. Specifically, how do you take the good teaching practices you already know and adapt them for distance learning? We talked to two of our PBISApps trainers to learn what they did to make their in-person trainings effective in online spaces.
2020-08-2428 min