Galion, Ohio - The Galion City School District is making strides in creating more effective learning environments, thanks to their commitment to implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Each year, the Department of Education and Workforce and the Ohio PBIS Network recognize schools and districts for their quality and fidelity of PBIS implementation. Schools and districts are eligible to receive awards at the bronze, silver, gold levels of distinction . “The annual awards were recently released and we are very pleased with the outcome for our schools”, said Melisa Watters, Chief Academic Officer.
Galion’s Primary School, Middle School and High School each earned the Bronze award for the 2023-24 school year. Schools aiming to receive a PBIS Bronze Award must meet specific documentation and data requirements that show their commitment to creating positive learning environments. By meeting these requirements, these schools have demonstrated that they have successfully implemented PBIS Tier 1 strategies to support positive student behavior and create a safe, effective learning environment. This is the first year that the Middle School and High School have earned this recognition.
The Silver Award is given to schools who have successfully implemented not only the Tier 1 supports, but also Tier 2 supports as well as met requirements for reducing chronic absenteeism, and decreasing disciplinary actions. “We are extremely proud to announce that Galion Intermediate School has earned the Silver Award for the 2023-24 school year”, said Matt Dick, Principal. “This building has earned the Bronze Award for the past few years. It’s nice to be recognized for the improvement and we hope to continue to grow and improve this year”.
These awards serve as a testament to the district's dedication to their mission statement of : We will prepare students with a rigorous education that enables them to be contributing members of the community. We provide a supportive, social-emotional, safe, and respectful environment that cultivates learners of tomorrow. Our guiding principle is Believe in yourself, Achieve your greatest potential, and Succeed in all aspects of life.
The district plans to continue expanding its PBIS efforts, working to ensure that each school builds the capacity to teach and support positive behaviors in every setting. As schools refine their processes and tailor their approaches to the unique needs of their student populations, the district looks forward to seeing even more successes in the coming years.