Heights' West Elementary recognized for success

Pataskala Standard
·2 min read
West Elementary, located at 1490 Climbing Fig Drive in Blacklick, has been recognized for its success with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
West Elementary, located at 1490 Climbing Fig Drive in Blacklick, has been recognized for its success with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.

Licking Heights West Elementary has been recognized for its success with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS involves teaching students expected behaviors in a consistent and positive way, modeling and acknowledging those behaviors, and helping all students meet expectations and be successful. PBIS has been shown to improve student achievement, student behavior and school climate.

In 2015, Ohio PBIS Network first recognized schools that were model examples of strong PBIS. In 2021, Licking Heights West Elementary applied and earned the Bronze level. They are one of 354 award-winning schools to be recognized at any of the levels Gold (34), Silver (70), or Bronze (233). Licking Heights West Elementary will be honored at the 2021 Ohio PBIS Showcase in conjunction with the Ohio Leadership Advisory Council (OLAC) virtual conference on December 9, 2021. The theme for the conference is Responsive, Reimagined and Resilient Leadership. The event is FREE to all who register.

For more information about the virtual event, please go to the link for the 2021 OLAC and PBIS Showcase: https://ohioleadership.org/news-and-events/2021-action-forum.

Mitch Tom, Supervisor of Pupil Services, has advanced districtwide PBIS initiatives.

“The West Elementary PBIS team is the fourth team in the district to have earned the distinction of a bronze star award winner, recognized through the State Support Team, Region 11,” Tom said. “The purpose of PBIS is to create a structure and culture of high expectations for students to follow within a school environment. In addition, the focus should be to teach expected behaviors for all areas of the school and reinforce the appropriate behavior displayed by students in a positive manner… I am very proud of what the team at West Elementary has accomplished.”

The West Elementary PBIS team, including building Principal Krissy Machamer, worked diligently to develop a structured program and handbook. Machamer said, “We have worked on creating positive behaviors at the building, classroom and individual level for students by using multiple incentive programs. The student culture focuses daily on our 3 B's (Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Safe). The social emotional well-being of our staff and students is first and foremost and all of this helps effective teaching and learning. As the principal, I couldn't be more proud of my PBIS team and staff.”

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Heights' West Elementary recognized for success