As you all are aware of, the needs of students are ever-changing. In the past few years, there has been a heightened awareness, especially in our State and County, in the areas of trauma, mental health, poverty, social-emotional learning, and the behaviors that result from these antecedents. The District has and continues to take steps this year to improve the system we have to better support these students and our employees that work with them.
As the school improvement process shifts towards the Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process (MI-CIP), Districts state-wide are realigning the efforts we make to attend to the needs of the "Whole Child". Last school year and continuing this year, the climate committees with representation from each building have been working on an improved and more consistent MTSS process specifically addressing the behavior and social-emotional well-being of students for our District. This work included looking at developing guidance and strategies for staff on how to intervene with behavior issues occurring in the schools at the varying levels of degree, locations, and frequency. This information was shared by Executive Director of Student Services and Special Education, Holly Halabicky during the beginning of the year PD days, pairing up with the other 1/2 of the day being on the Poverty Simulation opportunity.
Additionally this year, we created a new PK-12 MTSS Behavior Coach position and hired, Amy Chorley. Amy will be supporting teachers and teams in the area of behavior in a manner similar to the role that our math and literacy coaches do. Additionally, Amy will support aspects of our planning and implementation of improved MTSS practices and procedures with respect to behavior, climate, and social-emotional well-being.
Lastly, one of the other opportunities that have been recognized in our District is our need to better communicate throughout the process of these office managed behavioral interventions. I've reminded all administrators that part of attending to behavior interventions is maintaining timely and appropriate communication with the individual(s) that are seeking further help through the office. We know that when concerns regarding behavior come to the office, those referring it on, by nature of the process, may feel out of the loop and removed from the process. Therefore, it is important that those handling the intervention communicate the plan of action. Moving forward I've asked that in an effort to improve communication administrators will make a copy of the referral, including the action taken, and deliver it to you in your mailbox.
These are a few of the steps that we have/are taking to better support students and employees throughout the behavior intervention process. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to your building administrator or me.
