Events

Virtual PBIS Summit: Back to Basics

This one-day virtual summit for school PBIS teams and other professionals has been designed to help increase the effectiveness of PBIS implementation with conference-like sessions focused on evidence-based practices that will be essential in the upcoming school year. By the end of the summit, participants will be poised to adapt existing PBIS practices to meet current needs in light of students returning to instruction in the fall.

Handouts for the individual sessions are posted below.

Keynote Presenters

Opening Keynote

Dr. Tim Lewis, University of Missouri

Dr. Tim Lewis is a professor of Special Education at the University of Missouri and has been involved in special education for 30 years. He is Director of the University of Missouri Center for School-wide Positive Behavior Support and is Co-Director of the National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. His areas of expertise include social skill instruction, functional assessment, and proactive school-wide discipline systems.

Afternoon Keynote

Dr. Ambra Green, University of Texas - Arlington

Dr. Ambra L. Green is an Assistant Professor of Special Education within the College of Education at The University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Green’s scholarship is focused on diverse learners with and at risk for disabilities and mitigating issues of inequity for vulnerable populations through teacher preparation, multi-tiered systems of support, and policy.

Schedule of Events


Opening Keynote

9:00 am - 10:00 am

Dr. Tim Lewis

Back to Basics to Build the Future

The new school year will open with a range of challenges. The pandemic, racial inequality, economic recession have and will continue to impact the social/emotional development of our students. Now more than ever, educators should look to evidence-based practices as essential in the new school year, while building safe and supportive environments for all students.

Breakout 1

10:15 am - 11:00 am

Session 1A

Dr. Lisa Powers

Adapting Essential Features to Current Needs Part 1: Prevention

Clarifying and teaching expected behavior are essential features of the PBIS framework. In this session participants will:

  • Understand how the PBIS essential features of clarifying and teaching expected behavior are critical in supporting students coming back to school.

  • Identify adaptations to address potential distance learning and embed equity efforts into clarifying and teaching expected behavior.

Session 1B

Dr. Heather Hatton

Adapting Data-based Decision Making at Tier 1

Data-based decision making drives the PBIS continual improvement cycle. In this session, participants will:

  • Identify the data, systems, and practices associated with current DBDM activities.

  • Consider adaptations to support ongoing DBDM as schools reopen.

Afternoon Keynote

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Dr. Ambra Green

Your Multi-tiered System of Support is Your Framework for Equity… If, You’re Implementing Correctly

Schools continue to suffer from a history of inequitable and discriminatory practices. As a result, students of color and students with disabilities experience negative academic and behavioral outcomes. To effectively enhance student learning, educators must thread equitable practices, culture, and cross-cultural instruction in the learning environment beginning with Tier 1.

Breakout 2

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Session 2A

Danielle Starkey

Adapting Essential Features to Current Needs Part 2: Feedback

Encouraging expected behavior and discouraging unexpected behavior are essential features of the PBIS framework. In this session participants will:

  • Understand how the PBIS essential features of encouraging expected behavior and discouraging unexpected behavior are critical in supporting students coming back to school.

  • Identify adaptations to address potential distance learning and embed equity efforts into encouraging expected behavior and discouraging unexpected behavior.

Session 2B

Dr. Trisha Guffey

Adapting Data-based Decision Making at Tiers 2-3

Data-based decision making drives the Tier 2-3 identification and progress monitoring cycle. In this session, participants will:

  • Identify the data, systems, and practices associated with current DBDM activities for Tier 2-3.

  • Consider adaptations to support ongoing DBDM as schools reopen.

Team Time*

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

*School team participants are encouraged to set up their own virtual PBIS Team meetings to discuss presentation takeaways, implementation ideas, and action steps.