PBIS has announced March’s Staff Member of the Month and Students of the Month.

Special education teacher Juliana Wright has nominated fellow special education teacher Lynn Peterson for the accommodating and supportive job she has done.

“Mrs. Peterson has been supportive of me as I have started this new job,” Wright said. “She’s always willing to help any student or any teacher with whatever the need may be.”

Other staff members that were nominated include history teacher Diane Ruane, science teachers Staci Killingsworth and Jeff Schmidlkofer, English teachers Whitney Shoemaker and Kelly Corado, and math teacher Kristin Peavyhouse.

History teacher Taylor Sweeney nominated junior Noah Lewis for his responsibility. Lewis is not only a great musician, but a determined one. Noah studied for a history test on a band trip, so he would not have to make it up even though he was given the option to.

“Noah is first of all an awesome student. He is amazing. He does a great job in class. He always does what I ask him to,” Sweeney said. “He is just an incredibly responsible kid.”

Other nominated upperclassmen include seniors Katie Johnson, Nash Glover, and Zoe Croft, and juniors Isabella McBride, RJ Atchison, Mia Jardot, and Emma Arnold. 

Drama teacher Lauren Kuykendall nominated freshman Matthew Wright for his accountability. During the drama department’s spring musical, Wright was always on top of his responsibilities. 

“He showed up prepared and showed maturity, professionalism, [and] always took initiative,” Kuykendall said. “[He] makes everyone feel like a somebody.”

Once a month Elise Heaton, the assistant principal in charge of PBIS, sends out a link to the staff so that they can nominate teachers and students on their good mannerism. The PBIS committee, composed of Heaton, a PBIS coach, and other staff, voted on the PBIS staff and student of the month. 

“The PBIS program at Starr’s Mill helps us focus on the three core values that we want all of our students and staff to exhibit on a daily basis: respect, accountability, and responsibility,” assistant principal Elise Heaton. “So with PBIS and focusing on these three things we can celebrate the positive things going on in our building instead of the negative things, which will hopefully encourage others to show those positive values as well.”