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

Special education teacher Lynn Peterson nominated fellow special education teacher Katherine Sevy because of her accountability and her hustle in the classroom.

“From the time she came into the school, her number one concern was the students,” Peterson said.

Other nominees included English teacher Chris Salas, math teacher Heather McNally, science teacher Samatha Krage, guidance counselors Ashley Clay, Shellie Edwards, Lauren Fleming and Meshanna Marcus, guidance secretary Stacy Nichols, and special education teachers AC Atha, Rosann Patterson, and Lynn Peterson.

Math teacher Heather McNally nominated junior Dola Dedeigbo for Upperclassman of the Month because of her accountability in her pre-calculus course.

“Dola joined pre-calculus halfway through the year,” McNally said. “She taught herself all the material from there.”

English teacher and journalism adviser Justin Spencer nominated sophomore Ella Bissonette for Underclassman of the Month for her taking the additional responsibilities of being an editor.

“In her final exam, [Ella] requested that I be more critical of her work,” Spencer said. ”For any high schooler to request to be challenged more, really stood out to me.”

Other nominees included freshmen Paul Vasquez and Yang Linda.

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.”