Portola Hills
Elementary School

September 13, 2024

Twenty-two Saddleback Valley Unified School District campuses have been distinguished by California PBIS for excellence in implementing a robust Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. Melinda Heights and San Joaquin elementary schools and Silverado High School have earned one of the most distinguished awards, the Gold Implementation Award. Recipients of the Silver recognition include Cielo Vista, De Portola, Foothill Ranch, Glen Yermo, Lake Forest, Linda Vista, Lomarena, Montevideo, Olivewood, Portola Hills, Ralph A. Gates, Rancho Cañada, Robinson, Santiago, Trabuco Mesa, and Valencia elementary schools as well as La Paz, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Serrano intermediate schools.

California PBIS oversees a statewide recognition system to acknowledge schools for implementing PBIS with fidelity to the national framework. Schools are given the opportunity to apply to be recognized as Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze according to their level of implementation. Following the 2023-2024 school year, only 611 schools across the state were designated as platinum, 651 as gold, 753 as silver, and 206 as bronze.

According to the California Department of Education, PBIS is an approach that focuses on the emotional and behavioral learning of students, which leads to an increase in engagement and a decrease in problematic behavior over time. It assists schools in adopting and organizing evidence-based behavioral interventions that improve social and emotional behavior outcomes for all students.

At Melinda Heights Elementary, students ROAR by being Responsible, Owning their choices, and Acting with integrity and Respect. Positive behavior expectations are taught through annual Safari Rotations and class-created behavior matrices. ROAR tickets reward positive behavior, allowing students to shop at the ROAR store. Monthly, Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams analyze behavior data to plan support. New this year, monthly student-led Power of the Paw assemblies feature the ROAR pledge, song, mascot, and prizes. Additionally, classes can earn ROAR Activity Carts for demonstrating positive behavior together.

"As the new principal of Melinda Heights Elementary, it is exciting to become part of this wonderful staff who have a laser-focus on the social-emotional well-being of our students," said Principal Wendie Hauschild." We have a school-wide culture of seeking to understand what students are communicating with their behaviors and supporting them in positive ways."

PBIS at San Joaquin includes the development of lesson plans with explicit examples of expectations aimed at positively impacting students’ mental health. The Cheetahs are encouraged to practice positivity by sharing affirmations, thoughtful words, and acts of kindness. Specific examples such as “Your bracelets are adorable” or “Thank you for helping me clean up my Legos” are provided in the classroom and help to foster a supportive environment. Ultimately, the goal is for San Joaquin students to use similar phrases both inside and outside the classroom to communicate effectively with one another.

San Joaquin principal, Kristin Fowler, shared the following of her school’s award: “Receiving the PBIS 2024 Gold Implementation Award is a profound honor for both me and our school community. It reflects our collective dedication to fostering a positive and supportive learning environment, and it motivates us to continue striving for excellence in creating an inclusive and effective educational experience for all students.”

Silverado High School attributes this recognition to its faculty, staff, and administration who have been dedicated to implementing and improving PBIS systems across campus. This has provided strength and consistency in working with students who need stability as well as academic and behavioral direction.

“For the second year in a row we have earned the Gold level award for our strong tier 1 and tier 2 practices,” remarked Silverado principal David Gordon. “At Silverado, our students SOAR!”

The Saddleback Valley Unified School District has focused on using data to better support students and has enhanced its basic behavioral programs to ensure all students receive consistent support. The district has also allocated Educator Effectiveness Block Grant funds to hire four additional MTSS SEB Teachers on Special Assignment to help establish clear systems that support the effective use of these strategies across all 31 schools in the district.

“When a California school district is recognized for its PBIS implementation, it shows a strong commitment to fostering a positive school culture for everyone from students to staff and even our community at large,” said Kathy Stauffer, SVUSD Teacher on Special Assisment who supports PBIS. “Awards like the PBIS Silver or Gold reflect the district’s dedication to ongoing training, resource allocation, and data-driven decision-making to support positive behavioral outcomes for students​.”

The distinguished schools will be recognized as a part of the 9th Annual California PBIS Conference in Sacramento on October 9-11, 2024. 

“We are proud to have the most awarded schools of any medium-sized district in all of Orange County with 100% of our applying schools earning their state recognition,” Ms. Stauffer shared.

Click here to see the full list of 2023-2024 California PBIS Recognized Schools. Great work, SVUSD!