Montgomery Public Schools

"Implementing Behavioral Strategies to Reduce Disruptive Behaviors"
Susan Terrell, Behavioral Administrative Specialist: (334) 223-6828

The Behavioral Intervention Program currently serves students and their families within all secondary Montgomery Public Schools (MPS), as well as students at four Elementary locations. The purpose of the program is to provide schools with a certified, Master’s level, Behavior Interventionist (BI) who is highly qualified in areas related to assessment, behavioral modification, principles of counseling, in-home intervention, and classroom management. The BI works with identified students to promote behavioral growth through the use of research based counseling techniques and strategies, and through the use of a systematic plan for behavioral success. The BI assists teachers and other staff in conducting Functional Behavior Assessments, and devises appropriate Behavior Intervention Plans that meet Best Practices standards, and are NCLB, IDEA ’97 & ‘04 compliant. The BIs rely on administrative, teacher, and parental referrals to build their client base. The following are specific situations in which services are provided:

• Students who are in an immediate crisis situation
• Students with an established pattern of inappropriate behavior
• Students who are experiencing behavioral difficulty at home
• Students at-risk of receiving out-of-classroom placement
• Students returning from temporary suspension
• Students who face a possible Alternative School placement
• Students returning to their zone school from an Alternative School placement

Once a student has been referred, the BI conducts Functional Behavioral Assessments to assist in the understanding of the relationship between the student’s behavior and the purpose of the behavior in relationship to environmental factors. Various environmental settings, (e.g. home, school, community) are investigated and analyzed to assist school personnel in understanding and evaluating the student’s problem behaviors within a larger context. Next, Behavioral Intervention Plans are designed to outline response strategies to allow everyone to respond in the same manner to the identified behavior.  BIs then help ensure that response strategies and consequences are humane, respectful, and cause the least amount of disruption to the school structure.

MPS also offers FREE individual and group counseling services at the MPS Behavior Intervention Center located in the Student Services ANNEX building, 401 South Decatur Street, on Tuesday-Thursday from 4:30-7:00 P.M. If you are interested in these services, please call Susan Terrell at (334) 223-6828 to schedule an appointment.