Five county schools highlighted in behavioral program

Five Carter County schools recently received honors as the state named them Models of Demonstration schools, but to Carter County Schools, such a distinction is only the beginning.

Special Education Director Terry Hubbard said the distinction is part of their new involvement in the RTI2B program.

“We partnered with UT and Ashley Smethers,” Hubbard said.

Smethers is an Educational Consultant at UT under the Tennessee Behavioral Support Project.

The five schools include Hunter Elementary and Keenburg Elementary winning the Silver award, Cloudland Elementary receiving the Bronze award, and Happy Valley Middle and Unaka Elementary receiving the Schools of Recognition distinction.

The distinction, Hubbard said, relates to how the schools respond to and care for behavioral systems and interactions among their students.

“When you look at our improvement plan, chronic absenteeism is a big problem,” she said. “Most of that falls under behavior.”

She said the program will focus less on punishment and more on getting the students the help they need. This training will include focus on ACEs, or adverse childhood experiences, and it will train teachers and faculty to better recognize and assist with these issues in their student populations.

For example, if a child has a troubled home environment, they may lash out during school. Rather than punish the child for a behavior whose source lies outside the classroom, educators will be better equipped to work with the student to find a better solution.

“It is going to help their academics and help develop the child into the person they need to be,” Hubbard said.

This involvement will feature different teams depending on the school. For example, each elementary school will have its own team, while all four high schools will fall under one team due to their similarities. All of these teams of school officials will receive guidance from Hubbard and Smethers.

These teams will start out with principals and assistant principals, but may expand later as the program evolves.

Hubbard said training for this program will begin in March, with the new program taking flight when students return to school in August.

If the faculty in a school are better able to help their students succeed, Hubbard said the school’s climate as a whole can change for the better.

“When we find solutions, we will help the school environment,” Hubbard said.

In addition to helping the teachers, she said the program will also provide hope for struggling students as well.

“We want them to know there is help here,” Hubbard said.

SportsPlus

Local news

Carter County Sheriff’s Office mourns loss of SRO Salvatore Caccamo

Local news

Vanderbilt Transplant Center reaches new heights in 2024

Local news

Bill Hagerty announces candidacy for re-election to U.S. Senate

Local news

Unicoi County’s Ballad Health Hospital awarded $9.8 million to rebuild after Helene flooding

Local news

Master Storyteller Award and Performance scheduled March 5 at ETSU Martin Center

Local news

Ballad Health maintains ‘A’ credit ratings amid industry challenges

Community

Community Calendar

Community

Visit Roan Mountain

Local news

‘Sentimental Journey,’ ‘Razzmatazz’ are Valentine Specials at LampLight Theatre

Local news

Council to vote on declaring city judge seat vacant

Local news

Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter hosts special Valentine’s Day Adoption Event

Local news

Jacob Morley found guilty of murder

Local news

Lee’s budget includes $56 million for ETSU science facilities

Local news

Former Doe Mountain Recreation Authority employee indicted for misappropriating $12K in funds

Local news

A Live Lived: Ida Hinkle was everyone’s buddy

Local news

Tennesseans oppose expansion of private school voucher program

Local news

Harshbarger fights for rural healthcare

Local news

Milligan criminal justice professor to share research on bloodstains from Battle of Gettysburg

Local news

ETSU’s Bluegrass program sparks global recognition

Local news

Tennessee governor pushes nuclear investment and road construction in sixth year

Local news

Carter County Long-Term Recovery Group announces partner meeting, seeks volunteers for recovery efforts

Local news

Johnson City Commission meeting rescheduled

Local news

VFW Post 2166, Second Harvest to distribute food to Veterans on Feb. 14

Local news

ETSU’s Bluegrass Program sparks global recognition