PBS Makes a Difference: One Family’s Story Sandy Roethler PBS Forum October 2008

Professional and Personal Role in PBS I was: Executive Director serving parents of children with emotional impairments Co-Principal Investigator of federal children’s mental health grant Member of PBS advisory teams Mother of a child in a PBS School

Scott’s Path, My Path Permission Whose story? Shifting perspective

Who was My Child? Smart, funny, creative, affectionate, warm Hated himself/depressed/talked about dying Was “Top of the Triangle” Special education for emotional impairment I knew he wasn’t that kid

Who was I? An Accomplice A Task Master Non-empathetic Cognitive dissonance

My Mission: Improving Schools I took my job to improve schools My first PBS training – epiphany Work thoughts –how can my workplace/our community support PBS? Personal thoughts – How can this benefit my child?

Old School vs PBS School Changed schools in 6 th grade School refusal/home school Attended intensive PBS training & met principal Allows us to compare Benefits for Scott and for the family

SUCCESS! for Scott Better behavior Better grades Improved reading skills He saw his “true self”

SUCCESS! for Parents No more: Negativity from others Guilt, avoiding or explaining Calls home or work loss More time: Praising and seeing strengths Bragging and being proud!

Relationship Transformation

Behavior Benefits – to Him & Me Non-PBS School: Calls every week, multiple calls in a day –I’m at Work –Negative spills over to home –Double punishment –Frustration/ embarrassment PBS School: 6 calls all year – and 3 were calls to brag –Warm fuzzies with school –No work interruptions –Made me feel proud of my child

Behavior Benefits Non-PBS School: Sent home early/suspensions Stormed out of classroom Slept 2 hours/day Fought over/ refused to do homework PBS School: Problems solved in school Removed himself briefly, was flexible Fully engaged Reminded Dad about homework

But What About His Grades? Non-PBS School: Reading at below grade level (less than 5 th ) 3 F’s and a C Couldn’t remember times table – far behind PBS School: Reading above grade level (7.8) Made A Honor Roll Only ½ year behind in math

What’s the Difference? It’s Not about Us: We’re the Same Parents –Communicating with school in the same way –Parenting the same way –School was difficult before –If it were about us, we would have seen results at the old school

Non-Believers Some people do not want to believe: –“You don’t have the same kinds of kids we do” (right, the ones at Scott’s school had more barriers) –“You are different from other parents we have at our school”

What’s the Difference? He had great teachers at his old school He has the same IEP Nothing else in child’s environment changed (no deaths, didn’t move, still married…) We even STOPPED getting mental health support after changing schools … The only difference is PBS

What Worked? He ran his meeting/owned the plan The team treated him like an equal partner They negotiated a system for behavior support Principal connected him with a social network from the start School included the family School called to brag about him

What Else Worked? He could leave class when he needed to and talk about what was going on He was praised for handling his anger well He had a mentor He knew the adults were trying to understand and help, not “get him in trouble” Other kids’ behavior was better (universal)

What about Next Year? Positive effects carried into 7 th & 8 th grade –Few Supports –Excellent grades –Loved school –Lots of friends –Happy, regular kid –New principal didn’t recognize old kid –“Bottom of the Triangle”

Summary PBS can show great outcomes – at school, at home & in the community Outcomes can last multiple years I retired in July b/c my mission is being achieved … thanks to YOU!