Licking Heights Local Schools is pleased to announce that West Elementary, South Elementary, Central Intermediate and the Middle School have received recognition from the Ohio Department of Education for their efforts with Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

PBIS is a data-based, tiered framework for schools that supports the mental, social, emotional, academic and behavioral well-being of all students. When fully implemented, PBIS creates a safe, equitable learning environment that supports the unique needs of each student.

The PBIS framework includes three tiers: Tier 1, which supports all students, educators and staff; Tier 2, which provides additional support, instruction and academic and social guidance to students who need it; and Tier 3, which provides intensive and individualized behavioral support for high-need students. All schools at Licking Heights have successfully implemented Tier 1 and have either already implemented or are in the process of implementing Tier 2.

In Ohio, schools may receive a Gold, Silver or Bronze PBIS recognition. Bronze recognitions are given to schools that have successfully implemented and are maintaining Tier 1 support, Silver for schools that have done the same with Tier 2 and Gold for Tier 3.

West, South and Central all earned a Bronze recognition, and the middle school earned Silver. Schools must apply for recognition, and must provide data about student behavior, how easy it is for the schools to locate and track student behavior data and school-wide efforts to build and support a PBIS staff network.

“At Licking Heights, we recognize that social, emotional and behavioral health for all students is critical for student learning. Implementing PBIS allows us to meet the needs of our students and provide adequate support to all students and staff, which creates an equitable learning and working environment throughout the district,” says Mitch Tom, Director of Pupil Services. “This honor is solely due to the dedicated team facilitators, administrators and staff that we have on each of our building teams that put forth many hours to ensure that we continue to teach appropriate behaviors, review data for specific trends, and reward our students for positive outcomes. This would never have happened without the hard work of those individuals.”

Tom added that the district is honored to receive recognition from the Ohio Department of Education and looks forward to continuing their work to implement Tier 2 support at all schools.

“Creating a safe, respectful, equitable learning space is definitely a group effort, and I commend Mitch, our building principals, and all members of our PBIS teams across the schools for their leadership and involvement,” says Dr. Kevin S. Miller, Licking Heights’ Superintendent. “We are setting each and every one of our students up for success thanks to their commitment to the mental and emotional wellbeing of each student.”

The PBIS teams for South, West, Central and the middle school will officially receive their awards on January 31, 2024 at the Ohio PBIS Showcase.