The tool to inspire students Valerie Bond 11/30/2009

A N E DUCATION LEADER PROMOTES THE SUCCESS OF EVERY STUDENT BY ACTING WITH INTEGRITY, FAIRNESS AND IN AN ETHICAL MANNER. Increased violence in schools has moved administrators to stricter school discipline. Many studies, especially in urban communities, claim that school policies exclude the most needy students. Schools have the responsibility to teach citizenship and model social outcomes for the future America

S TUDENT H ANDBOOKS Student handbooks provide necessary “blueprints” for student behavior. The signed, sealed and delivered policies in the handbook provide structure for teachers and parents. The handbook provides a path of consequences for those who choose to ignore the rules.

J UDGMENT DAY IN THE CLASSROOM The handbook is a safety zone to provide teachers with the support to exclude students who present a barrier to learning. Teachers that are knowledgeable in behavior management can reduce office referrals and ultimately expulsion. Teachers have the power to create classroom rules, behavior contracts and positive reinforcement.

F URTHER R ESEARCH School wide Positive Support Models seem to be effective in the early intervention of behavior disorders. School districts with funding issues can not always afford the costs of developing teams to collect data, develop programs and implement individualized programs. Teachers can be trained to implement simple strategies to maintain functional classrooms.

C ONCLUSION School districts must enforce boundaries for students’ behavior. Well equipped teachers can prevent office referrals. Students have to be held accountable for the handbook. American citizens obey the law and stop at the stop sign.