Sixteen schools within the Morongo Unified School District have been recognized by the state for their continued work on Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) for the 2023-2024 school year. These awards recognize schools for their outstanding efforts in creating positive school environments that support the social, emotional, and academic success of all students.
PBIS is a nationally recognized research-based tiered framework intended to support students’ behavior, academic, social, emotional and mental health by creating positive school environments. The PBIS Awards are given annually to schools that demonstrate excellence in implementing positive behavioral support systems, improving school climate, and reducing disciplinary incidents.
This year, ten schools in Morongo Unified School District received the highest honor, Platinum, including Black Rock High School, Condor Elementary, Joshua Tree Elementary, Morongo Valley Elementary, Palm Vista Elementary, Yucca Mesa Elementary, Yucca Valley Elementary, Yucca Valley High School La Contenta Middle School and Landers Elementary. Three schools received distinct honors at the Gold level, including Friendly Hills Elementary, Twentynine Palms Elementary and Onaga Elementary. Silver status was received by Oasis Elementary, Twentynine Palms Junior High School and Twentynine Palms High School.
"We are incredibly proud of our schools for their commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive atmosphere,” said Superintendent Dr. Patricio Vargas. “The PBIS Awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our educators, students and the entire school community. This recognition highlights our district’s dedication to supporting every student's growth, both academically and behaviorally."
The PBIS proactive approach to behavior management involves shifting the focus to positive reinforcement to encourage advanced student behaviors. Schools that implement PBIS effectively often see a reduction in disciplinary referrals and an improvement in academic outcomes.
Practically PBIS includes three tiers of support. The first tier primarily involves creating visible school-wide expectations for all students. These expectations are supported with positive reinforcements, like golden tickets or other recognitions. Tier 2 supports include group counseling and other systems. Tier 3 primarily involves individualized support systems.
“Using this approach, evolves the entire culture of a school in a manner that prioritizes social and emotional needs, health and safety, and behavior and academic growth,” said Dr. Nick Milosavljevic, Director of Equity and Access.
Morongo Unified School District remains committed to fostering positive environments across all its schools. The district will continue to support and expand PBIS initiatives to ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.