Cobb Reporter

Smitha Middle School's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Team has been awarded the Distinguished PBIS Recognition Status for the 2023-2024 academic year. The team's dedication to fostering a positive school environment is evident in their achievements, including a 31% reduction in office referrals, a 34% decrease in in-school suspension (ISS) days, and a 39.5% drop in out-of-school suspension (OSS) days. Furthermore, 90% of students had only zero or one office referral.

At Smitha, PBIS is integrated into daily activities. Students participate in various initiatives celebrating positive behavior, such as Fresh Air Fridays, special treat pop-ups during lunch, positive postcards sent home, and recognition as Students of the Quarter for demonstrating Smitha’s Cardinal R.E.D. values: Respect, Excellence, and Dedication. Additionally, students benefit from the Sources of Strength program.

The team includes Brittny Jones as the team admin and Melinda Allen as the coach. "Speaking from experience," said Sara Folk, District PBIS Coach at Cobb County School District, "PBIS implementation is a 'way of life' at Smitha." Folk also congratulated the team on their accomplishments.