The Durango Behavior Specialist is available to provide the following services to 9-R Staff Members:

Consultation

The Durango 9-R Behavior Specialist is available to district staff to consult on the following topics:

Concerning student behaviors and observation/assessment/ behavioral interventions to address those behaviors.

Direct and indirect student services (see below).

Mental, emotional and behavioral health and intervention in general.

Staff needs, education/training and support (see below).

Student Services

The Durango 9-R Behavior Specialist is available to deliver the following services to district students:

Direct Student Services:

Counseling - One-on-one and/or small group counseling of students for socio-emotional and behavioral issues.

Coaching - In-school “coaching” of individual students to teach skills and improve student behaviors.

Crisis Intervention - Immediate response to student soci-emotional and behavioral crisis to de-escalate and reintegrate students into the school day.

Indirect Student Services:

Observation/Assessment/Recommendations - In-school observation and assessment of students' behaviors in order to make intervention suggestions to increase desired behaviors.

Plan Development - Development, review, refinement and implementation of Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP), Response to Intervention (RtI) plans and Individual Education Plans (IEP) with a focus on socio-emotional and behavioral goals.

Consultation - Consultation with district staff, parents, and community-based individuals and organizations on individual students demonstrating behavioral issues.

Regulation Tools

Regulation refers to balancing your brain and nervous system so that you can be clear and wise in your thinking and decision-making; and calm, kind and patient in your interactions with others.

When your brain and nervous system are balanced, your students' brains and nervous systems become balance, as well. This is called co-regulation.

Here are some tools/activities to get there:

For Yourself -

4-4-8 Breath (breath in through your nose for a count of 4, hold your breath for a count of 4, breath out through pursed lips for a count of 8).

Hand Shaking (when feeling anxious/stressed) to discharge nervous and physical tension.

Butterfly Tapping (cross forearms and rest hands on upper arms; alternately tap your hands on your arms as you deep breath).

Peaceful Place Visualization (visualize a place real or imagined where you feel relaxed and peaceful; the more sensory details you can imagine the better). You can Butterfly Tap as you visualize.

For Your Students -

Belly Breathing (have students rest their hand on their belly as they breath to feel the rise and fall of the belly with the breath).

Brain Gym Hook-ups, Cross-Crawl or Brain Buttons (see https://ilslearningcorner.com/2017-01-brain-gym-simple-brain-gym-exercises-to-awaken-the-brain-for-learning-readiness/).

Stand, stretch and yawn.

Take a walk and get a drink of cold water.

Staff Training

The Durango 9-R Behavior Specialist is available to deliver district staff trainings and presentations on topics related to behavioral health and management.

Past topics have included:

A Brain-Based View of Adolescent Behavior and its Management.

Attachment Issues in the School-Age Children.

Behavior Management and Intervention.

Behavior Specialist Q&A Session.

Behavioral Management Strategies on School Buses.

Brain-based and trauma-informed educational theories and techniques.

Essential Behavior Intervention Principles and Practices.

Intervening with Defiant Students.

Intervention Strategies for Challenging Kindergarten Behaviors.

Introduction to Durango 9-R Behavior Specialist Services.

Preventing and Defusing Power Struggles with Students.

School-Based Behavioral Interventions.

Staff Self-Care.

Staff Traumatization, Recovery and Self Care.

Student De-Escalation Techniques.

Understanding Trauma in the Educational Setting.

Staff Support

The Durango 9-R Behavior Specialist is available to deliver support services (e.g., counseling, coaching) to any district staff member who is in need of such support. Staff members may Contact the Behavior Specialist directly to inquire about such services.