PBIS has announced the Student of the Month and the Staff Member of the Month for October. 

Athletic secretary Sarah Harmond nominated counselor Ashley Clay because she supports her students in and out of school. 

“I thought it was just amazing that she showed up to an away game to support one of her seniors,” Harmond said. “It just really touched my heart to see her there.”

Some of the other staff members nominated were math teachers Kristen Peavyhouse, Nick Castagna, and Tony Kleumper, assistant principal Elise Heaton, Spanish teacher Shayne Thompson, attendance secretary Brandy Hearing, learning specialists Anna Claire Atha and Juliana Wright, aviation teacher Stacy Brown, interpreter Sam Vivaldo, and science teacher Staci Killingsworth.

Learning specialist Laura Harbin nominated junior Ansley Strandberg for upperclassman of the month because she is respectful to everyone and is a true model of an exceptional student. 

 “I picked her because I think she’s amazing,” Harbin said. “She works really hard and she makes good grades, but she also makes time for every student in this building including those with special needs.”

Other upperclassmen nominated were senior Maggie Kluemper, and juniors Bella Gorman and Christen Gray.

Speech language pathologist Shannon Gagliano nominated sophomore Bailey Tourre for underclassman of the month because she is helping tremendously with the PALS club without being asked. 

“Bailey goes above and beyond as a member of our leadership team,” Gagliano said. “I can always count on Bailey if I need something last minute as well. She is a definite asset to our club.”

Other underclassmen nominated were sophomores Emma Newell and Ryan Murphy, and freshmen Rogers Khyler and William Thomas.

Once a month Elise Heaton, the assistant principal in charge of PBIS, sends out a link for staff members to nominate students and teachers on their good behavior. The PBIS committee, composed of Heaton, a PBIS coach, and other faculty and staff, voted on the PBIS staff and students 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.”