Press Release: OBERLIN CITY SCHOOLS EARN BRONZE AWARDS FOR TIER 1 PBIS

OBERLIN CITY SCHOOLS EARN BRONZE AWARDS FOR TIER 1 PBIS

OBERLIN -- All four schools within Oberlin City Schools were recently awarded the Bronze Award for their work with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS is an evidence-based three-tiered framework used to improve and integrate all of the data, systems and practices affecting student outcomes every day.

On Thursday, Nov. 5, Oberlin Superintendent Dr. David Hall said the District’s PBIS initiative was set up for a review; and was pleased to learn the results.

“All of the buildings have done a great job in implementing our RISE (Responsible, Involved, Safe and Empathetic” theme,” Dr. Hall said, noting committees have been meeting to develop new innovative PBIS action steps during e-Learning.

The Tier 1 practices and systems establish a foundation of regular, proactive support while preventing unwanted behaviors. Schools provide universal support to all students, school-wide.

Oberlin City Schools Director of Curriculum and Instruction Mr. William Baylis said school principals and counselors, in 2019, created PBIS implementation teams in order to help students achieve success with the help of Oberlin City Schools Director of Student and Family Support Mr. Jay Nimene. Eastwood and Prospect Elementary Schools Counselor Mr. Ben Eiskamp also assisted with the PBIS implementation. District principals include Eastwood Elementary Ms. Meisha Baker; Prospect Elementary Mr. Jim Eibel; Langston Middle School Ms. Sheila Hicks; Oberlin High School Principal Mr. Chris Frank; and Oberlin High School Assistant Principal Ms. Celina Bigio. Eastwood and Prospect Elementary Schools Counselor Mr. Ben Eiskamp also assisted with the PBIS implementation.

According to Mr. Eiskamp, both elementary schools earned the Bronze Award by developing a school-wide system of behavior expectations.

“By presenting the expectations to all stakeholders and through development of lesson plans and student instruction on these expectations, Eastwood and Prospect Elementary Schools will continue to R.I.S.E into the 2020-2021 school year,” Mr. Eiskamp said.

Langston Middle School Principal Ms. Sheila Hicks said the school’s PBIS team completed a Tiered Fidelity Inventory and then met with Joshua Preece from the State Support Team to share both successes and areas in need of improvement.

“Mr. Preece seemed quite enthusiastic about what we were able to achieve last year,” Ms. Hicks said.

At Oberlin High School, Assistant Principal Ms. Celine Bigio was the administrator in charge of the PBIS at the high school level. She has been awarded two endowment grants to support the efforts.

“Students are recommended by teachers for modeling the behaviors of being responsible, involved, safe and empathetic,” Ms. Bigio said. Students were recognized publicly on the announcements and received small prizes and some larger monthly prizes. Teachers were also recognized by students for modeling the behaviors as well. Behavior has improved and office referrals are down by 50 percent.”

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