Jeanette students thrive with positive intervention program

August 5, 2024

In Pennsylvania, Jeanette Jr./Sr. High School recognized more than 60 individuals as “Standout Students” at the end of the school year as part of its Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, an evidence-based, tiered frameworks to address students’ successes and needs.

The PBIS program establishes plans for students and rewards them when they accomplish their goals. The main objective of the PBIS program is to support students’ needs as they arise and encourage and increase positive behaviors schoolwide.

"The students really like the opportunity to be nominated by staff for this. They work hard throughout each nine weeks for the chance at a prize which could be a basket with gifts, gift cards, games and more, we have seen a decrease in referrals and an increase in those being nominated for PBIS/Stand Out Students," said Principal Vanessa White. "Through the PBIS program, we are hoping to encourage positive behaviors and decrease truancy and failing grades. We also want to increase the students’ interest in attending school and working on positive aspects of themselves and the school community."

A $2,500 grant from the Horace Mann Educators Foundation to Jeanette Jr./Sr. High School, supported the continuance of the PBIS program by funding items for the PBIS store where students shop every two weeks with their PBIS points. Previously, teachers purchased the rewards in the store. Horace Mann agent Steve Elsier nominated the school for the Horace Mann Educators Foundation’s EmpowerED grant program which awarded $2,500 grants to 10 nonprofit, education-related organizations countrywide.