Student Behavior: PBIS Debate

School leaders and educators are sharing different perspectives regarding Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). While administrators frequently view PBIS as an opportunity to promote positive school cultures, many teachers criticize the practice as a temporary and ineffective fix for larger systemic issues.

  • “We are rolling out PBIS this year. Recognizing positive behaviors and explicitly teaching expectations. We create a safe and consistent environment. Something kids might have been missing the past few years.” —Elementary Assistant Principal in Missouri
  • “Our Dean of Students @nkarakla hit the ground running! She’s training our teachers on PBIS, revising our matrices to involve stakeholders, and clarifying our discipline processes!” —Elementary Principal in Virginia
  • “This is how passionate we are about PBIS! We had two teams that both wanted to go FIRST to present their ROARS challenge. Therefore, we had a rock, paper, scissor battle.” —Elementary Assistant Principal in Virginia 
  • “Taking time to brainstorm ideas as we update our #PBIS matrix.” —Elementary Principal in Michigan
  • “Lord…PBIS is trending. Why, #Teachers? Why?” —Math Educator in Indiana
    • “Someone in the higher ups received a kick back. We don’t get a choice.” —Elementary Teacher in California
  • “How can anyone read this and still think #PBIS is a good and functioning approach? ‘Rewards buy temporary compliance… Moreover, it does not occur to most of us to suspect rewards, given that our own teachers, parents, and managers probably used them’” —Science Teacher in California 
  • “The fake smile and internal cringe I give someone when they say ‘they’re really motivated by rewards!’ and feel all of the work I did last year with a kid being undone.(Again, if that’s your thing I’m not here to argue, I’m just feeling super bummed about it)” —Elementary Teacher, N/A