Amanda Smith

Black’s Mill Elementary School
Dawsonville, Georgia
msmith@dawson.k12.ga.us

Best Practices

1) Creating a positive culture for staff and students through PBIS initiatives: I was on the inaugural team that started PBIS at Kilough Elementary School. I have continued to implement and stay actively involved in this process. PBIS Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams collaborate monthly to disaggregate SWIS data to implement behavior interventions. Daily office referrals have decreased over the last several years with the implementation of student, administrative, and bus rubrics. Professional development for staff on PBIS and replacement behaviors and restorative practices have proven to be an effective best practice.

2) Data Teams for Learning: DT4L are vital for student performance and success. This process allows teachers to look at their formative and summative assessments, and drive and adjust instruction. DT4L is a systematic process to collect the data, analyze it, set SMART goals, implement common instructional strategies, determine results, monitor and evaluate, and adjust as necessary. This process then starts over. This approach allows teachers and administrators to collaborate and to set achievement as a priority.