'Positive Behavioral Interventions' Introduced Across LVJUSD

LIVERMORE, CA — Proactive strategies for "defining, teaching and supporting constructive student behaviors that, in turn, create positive school environments" are being rolled out in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District for the 2019-20 academic year, it was announced Tuesday.

The announcement comes with news that the district has been recognized for successfully implementing the strategies at four of its schools during the 2018-19 academic year: Altamont Creek Elementary, Croce Elementary, Junction Avenue K-8, and Rancho Las Positas Elementary.

The program, called Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports by the California PBIS Coalition, is playing "a critical role in the multi-tiered system of support in LVJUSD’s Framework for Success," according to the district.

“Our approach to whole-child learning includes supporting the behavioral, social-emotional and academic needs of our students. Research shows that using PBIS to improve the social and behavioral atmosphere in the classroom leads to enhanced academic success,” said LVJUSD Superintendent Dr. Kelly Bowers.

“Our focus is on preventing problems. Rather than assuming students should know how to behave, we work hard to teach, model and reinforce what positive behavior looks like in all areas of the school from the classroom, to the lunchroom, to the playground,” said Tara Aderman, principal of Altamont Creek Elementary.

Leaders at the four schools that have already implemented PBIS said success is tied to making the strategies part of their school’s culture.

“At Junction, positive behavior is what it means to ‘Be a Bulldog,'” said principal Dana Taylor.

Promoting strategies for extending the PBIS mindset outside the classroom has also proved successful, according to Taylor.

“Our teachers have shared age-appropriate PBIS strategies with their parents for supporting positive behavior at home,” Taylor said.

As the 2019-20 school year gets underway, Mike Biondi, assistant superintendent of Educational Services for LVJUSD, said, “We look forward to building on our PBIS strategies at all levels to continue expanding our students’ behavioral aptitudes and academic growth.”