Being good has its rewards

This year, instead of pointing out a student’s unwanted behavior for correction, teachers and administration at Holley-Navarre Primary will be more positive.

“We are initiating a school-wide positive behavior program,”  said Michele Barlow, the school’s guidance counselor.  “It helps students to realize the school-wide expectations on how to act and they’re rewarded for their good behavior.”

The Positive Behavior Program, or PBS, was developed by professors at the University of West Florida and initiated in Santa Rosa County by David Crissey, now the assistant principal at West Navarre Intermediate School. More than 370 schools in the state utilize the principals of the program.

“It’s been around for a few years in Florida,”  said Rick Hardcastle, the assistant principal at the primary school.  “And where it’s been in practice, research has shown a dramatic decrease in the number of referrals for students.”

Last year, the primary school issued 76 referrals – write-ups given to students for disorderly behavior. That number is low when considering the other 742 students in the school, Hardcastle said.

For more details on this story, see the Aug. 14 issue of Navarre Press or subscribe to our online edition.