Educators invited to PBIS retreat in August
With the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to impact students, families and teachers in Maine, the University of Maine System (UMS) and the Maine Department of Education (DOE) are teaming up to offer a training Aug. 8 for educators on the use of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in schools.
PBIS is an evidence-based framework for supporting positive student behavior and academic achievement that has been implemented in schools nationwide, including more than 75 in Maine. The Maine PBIS collaboration between UMS and Maine DOE is coordinated by Courtney Angelosante, faculty member in special education with the UMaine College of Education and Human Development.
The event, PBIS+: Integrating School, Community and Family Supports for Positive Student Outcomes, will be held from 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell. It’s designed to grow awareness of community and family support available statewide and locally, and to give participants an opportunity to network with agencies and community partners. Agencies and programs working in areas such as mental health, parenting support, food insecurity, counseling services, youth peer networks, suicide prevention, homelessness and LGBTQ+ will be on hand.
In addition, educators will have an opportunity to do a self-assessment of their school-family partnerships and develop an action plan for one or more family-centered activities.
School- and district-based teams can attend the retreat at no cost. However, due to limited space, each team member should complete an online registration form.
For more information, contact Angelosante, courtney.pacholoski@maine.edu.