Student Discipline Interviews with two administrators from Pulaski County Virginia

Student DisciplineStudent DisciplineInterviews with two administrators Interviews with two administrators

from from Pulaski County VirginiaPulaski County Virginia

Interviewed and compiled by Debra PerryInterviewed and compiled by Debra Perry

Principal of Principal of

Dublin Elementary SchoolDublin Elementary School

Interview withInterview with

Jennifer WallJennifer Wall Interview withInterview with

Jennifer WallJennifer Wall

Consistency: school-wide. Teachers Consistency: school-wide. Teachers handle differently some offenses and handle differently some offenses and the challenge is to obtain school-wide the challenge is to obtain school-wide consistency with regard to discipline.consistency with regard to discipline.

Interview withInterview with Jennifer Wall Jennifer Wall

What are the challenges with student What are the challenges with student discipline?discipline?


What are the challenges with student What are the challenges with student discipline?discipline?

We have an ESD (effective school-wide discipline) We have an ESD (effective school-wide discipline) plan in place for the third year now. It is a school-plan in place for the third year now. It is a school-

wide positive behavior-based program which wide positive behavior-based program which recognizes the teaching of behaviors. It leads to a recognizes the teaching of behaviors. It leads to a

warmer climate – more supportive. The plan is warmer climate – more supportive. The plan is instructionally based. My assistant and I want to be instructionally based. My assistant and I want to be

viewed as helpful, not as leaders who send kids viewed as helpful, not as leaders who send kids

home.home.


How does discipline effect the overall school How does discipline effect the overall school

climate?climate?


How does discipline effect the overall school How does discipline effect the overall school

climate?climate?

Discipline is teaching/education based. We Discipline is teaching/education based. We don’t follow the same rules as home so we don’t follow the same rules as home so we need to teach our rules here and reinforce need to teach our rules here and reinforce

with posters, etc., our school-wide approach. with posters, etc., our school-wide approach. We use positive reinforcement which We use positive reinforcement which

reinforces their desire to behave.reinforces their desire to behave.


What is your personal leadership What is your personal leadership style/philosophy related to student style/philosophy related to student

discipline?discipline?


What is your personal leadership What is your personal leadership style/philosophy related to student style/philosophy related to student

discipline?discipline?

Brochures go home, newsletters go home, we have Brochures go home, newsletters go home, we have fun days where students get to spend their earned fun days where students get to spend their earned $$ (shamrocks) from good behaviors. All calls to $$ (shamrocks) from good behaviors. All calls to

home are framed toward change; change in home are framed toward change; change in behaviors focusing on the positive. I developed a behaviors focusing on the positive. I developed a scavenger hunt through the student handbook to scavenger hunt through the student handbook to

reinforce learning of the expected behaviors. reinforce learning of the expected behaviors. Parents volunteer to help at fun days and come to Parents volunteer to help at fun days and come to

see their child.see their child.


How do you involve parents in student How do you involve parents in student discipline?discipline?


How do you involve parents in student How do you involve parents in student discipline?discipline?

Two come to mind – special education issues as to Two come to mind – special education issues as to providing behavior support. And the second issue providing behavior support. And the second issue is bullying. With this topic there are a variety of is bullying. With this topic there are a variety of different conceptions as to what is bullying which different conceptions as to what is bullying which

causes vagueness in defining the level of offense. I causes vagueness in defining the level of offense. I would like more staff training on this.would like more staff training on this.


What are legal issues related to What are legal issues related to discipline?discipline?


What are legal issues related to What are legal issues related to discipline?discipline?

Our ESD is positive behavior supportive. We involve students Our ESD is positive behavior supportive. We involve students in creating our plan and we have monthly ESD team meetings. in creating our plan and we have monthly ESD team meetings. Consistency is our goal. We have created an icon (character) Consistency is our goal. We have created an icon (character) on magnets, posters, etc. Students earn shamrocks for good on magnets, posters, etc. Students earn shamrocks for good behavior. Our rewards are not toys but opportunities on fun behavior. Our rewards are not toys but opportunities on fun

days to play games, get teachers to sings, etc. When a days to play games, get teachers to sings, etc. When a student has a problem there is a Thinking Back/Planning student has a problem there is a Thinking Back/Planning

Ahead plan written up by the student. the ESD handbook and Ahead plan written up by the student. the ESD handbook and supporting documents are used and review by all.supporting documents are used and review by all.


What are effective strategies that you have What are effective strategies that you have used?used?


What are effective strategies that you have What are effective strategies that you have used?used?

We began in year one with the hallways (each teacher had a We began in year one with the hallways (each teacher had a book which they reviewed daily with the class). Then in year book which they reviewed daily with the class). Then in year

two we added the cafeteria and year three our ESD plan is two we added the cafeteria and year three our ESD plan is now school-wide. Ours is an acknowledge system with now school-wide. Ours is an acknowledge system with

opportunities to recognize positive behaviors. It is opportunities to recognize positive behaviors. It is relationship-based. We gave training to all through T/TAC. relationship-based. We gave training to all through T/TAC. Teachers, parents and students were a part of the planning, Teachers, parents and students were a part of the planning,

writing the school song, making the list of expectations. This writing the school song, making the list of expectations. This

needs to be a collaborative effort to be successful.needs to be a collaborative effort to be successful.


How does a school go about creating a school-wide discipline How does a school go about creating a school-wide discipline

strategy?strategy?


How does a school go about creating a school-wide discipline How does a school go about creating a school-wide discipline

strategy?strategy?

Teachers have been tremendously supportive. They Teachers have been tremendously supportive. They have been a part of the plan all along and are on the have been a part of the plan all along and are on the ESD team. They volunteer to work the fun days or to ESD team. They volunteer to work the fun days or to have their talents be the shamrock rewards. The only have their talents be the shamrock rewards. The only

issue is training new staff who have now come on issue is training new staff who have now come on board in year three – it will take practice for new board in year three – it will take practice for new

teachers as this is a school-wide policy.teachers as this is a school-wide policy.

Interview withInterview with Jennifer Jennifer

WallWall

How do teachers feel about how educational How do teachers feel about how educational leaders approach to discipline?leaders approach to discipline?

Interview withInterview with Jennifer Jennifer

WallWall

How do teachers feel about how educational How do teachers feel about how educational leaders approach to discipline?leaders approach to discipline?

Student DisciplineInterviews with two administrators from Pulaski County Virginia

Continued . . .

Interview with Janis Carter

Principal

Snowville

Elementary

School


What are the challenges with student discipline?

- Parent’s non-support of consequences that are used when students misbehave. Even with good communication of

protocol, parents can be a

challenge.


How does discipline effect the overall school climate?

- Discipline makes for smooth running of the school. Since all know the rules and

consequences concerning discipline,

school routine runs smoothly.


What is your personal leadership style/philosophy related to student

discipline?- Personal. I know all of the students and

parents and have visited in their homes. The students respect me. They know my philosophy, that if I say it, I do it, and I follow

through on all things. This applies to discipline as well as modeling learning behaviors.


How do you involve parents in student discipline?

- I always call parents if a child is seen in my office. I also call parents for incidents that are recorded on bus

reports. If a child is suspended, a

parent must bring in the child

when the child returns.


What are legal issues related to discipline?

- Following county policies, confidentiality, disciplinary actions are a few.


What are effective strategies that you have used?

-Some strategies are: student/parent handbook with rules; consistency of discipline, rapport with students so they

want to follow rules and be kind

to all.


How does a school go about creating a school-wide discipline strategy?

- Teachers, parents and students all have input into the discipline plan.


How do teachers feel about how educational leaders approach to discipline?

- Teachers want good discipline so their classrooms run smoothly. They turn to

the principal to speak to students

who misbehave and follow through.

Teachers want protocols in place

for sending students to the principal.

Student Discipline Interviews with two administrators from Pulaski County Virginia

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