The Shaler Area School District is home to a thriving school culture that fosters curiosity, collaboration, and character. One of the tools that our schools use to enhance the school environment is school-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS is a proactive approach that incentivizes and rewards positive choices students make. Dr. Shannon Howard, Principal of Shaler Area Middle School, points out, “by focusing on the positive and teaching about expected behavior, the behavior that we want to see becomes visible.”
PBIS not only enables teachers to recognize positive behavior in students, but it gives students the skills and practices they need to make healthy decisions. “School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) programs create a foundation for a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment by fostering positive behaviors and reducing disciplinary issues,” notes Dr. Brian Brown, Assistant Superintendent of Schools. “By emphasizing proactive strategies and consistent expectations, SWPBIS empowers students to succeed academically and socially while strengthening school culture and community connections.”
JoAnne Townsend, Interim Principal of Shaler Area High School, explains, “As a proud principal, I can confidently say that SWPBIS has been a positive force for our school. Our high school SWPBIS (School Wide Positive Behavior Supports and Intervention) team has built a clear and structured framework that ensures all students understand our expectations, and we consistently recognize and reward positive behaviors in both students and staff. By focusing on the positive, we’re not just improving behavior—we’re building a culture of pride, respect, and honor. We define what it means to be a ‘Shaler Area Titan.’ Using data to drive our decisions, we’ve been able to target areas for growth and see progress. This process has truly transformed our school into a more supportive, and collaborative community. We proactively value expected behaviors and empower students and staff to focus on positivity.”
The PBIS program extends beyond individual behaviors, to cultivating an integrated and intentional school culture. At Scott Primary and Shaler Area Elementary, PBIS is implemented using a house system, where students and staff alike are sorted into houses. Mr. Miller, Principal of Shaler Area Elementary, shares, “The House system is a way to connect students and adults across classes, grades, and professions to interact with others they may not normally have a chance to encounter. It allows us to create a ‘family’ atmosphere and a culture of friendship in our school.”
Recently, Shaler Area schools were recognized for their implementation of PBIS at the MTSS and PBIS Advanced Implementation Forum, held in Hershey. Noteworthy among attendees, Shaler Area stands out of their adoption of this program across the district. Dr. Crystal L. Vogtsberger, Training and Consultation Coordinator for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, explains, “To my knowledge there are around 500 public school districts in Pennsylvania, consisting of 3,287 schools and 120 charter schools. There were 48 schools in Pennsylvania that reached fidelity at all 3 tiers. 2 of those were Shaler MS and Shaler HS. Only 3 out of 48 schools are high schools, including Shaler Area High School.”
SASD schools were recognized at the following levels:
- Tier 1 Initial Implementation with Fidelity: Marzolf Primary, Reserve Primary, Shaler Area Elementary
- Tier 1 Sustained Implementation with Fidelity: Burchfield Primary, Scott Primary
- Tiers 1, 2, and 3 Sustained Implementation with Fidelity: Shaler Area High School and Shaler Area Middle School
Dr. Bryan O’Black, Superintendent of Schools, expressed, “This achievement reflects the dedication of our educators and staff to creating supportive and inclusive environments that promote student growth and success. We are incredibly proud of the collaborative efforts that have led to this accomplishment and remain committed to sustaining these positive practices district-wide.”