PBS Makes a PBS Makes a Difference: One Difference: One Family’s StoryFamily’s Story

Sandy Roethler • PBS Forum • October 2008

Professional and Personal Professional and Personal Role in PBSRole in PBS

I was:• Executive Director serving parents of

children with emotional impairments

• Co-Principal Investigator of federal children’s mental health grant

• Member of PBS advisory teams

• Mother of a child in a PBS School

Scott’s Path, My Path Scott’s Path, My Path

• Permission

• Whose story?

• Shifting perspective

Who was My Child?Who was My Child?• Smart, funny, creative, affectionate,

warm• Hated himself/depressed/talked

about dying• Was “Top of the Triangle”• Special education for emotional

impairment• I knew he wasn’t that kid

Who was I?Who was I?• An Accomplice

• A Task Master

• Non-empathetic

• Cognitive dissonance

My Mission:My Mission:Improving SchoolsImproving Schools

• I took my job to improve schools• My first PBS training – epiphany • Work thoughts –how can my

workplace/our community support PBS?

• Personal thoughts – How can this benefit my child?

Old School vs PBS SchoolOld School vs PBS School• Changed schools in 6th grade• School refusal/home school• Attended intensive PBS training &

met principal• Allows us to compare• Benefits for Scott and for the family

SUCCESS! for ScottSUCCESS! for Scott

•Better behavior

•Better grades

•Improved reading skills

•He saw his “true self”

SUCCESS! for ParentsSUCCESS! for ParentsNo more:• Negativity from others• Guilt, avoiding or explaining• Calls home or work lossMore time:• Praising and seeing strengths• Bragging and being proud!

Relationship TransformationRelationship Transformation

Behavior Benefits – Behavior Benefits – to Him & Meto Him & Me

Non-PBS School:• Calls every week,

multiple calls in a day– I’m at Work– Negative spills over

to home– Double punishment– Frustration/embarrassment

PBS School:• 6 calls all year –

and 3 were calls to brag– Warm fuzzies with

school – No work

interruptions– Made me feel proud

of my child

Behavior BenefitsBehavior BenefitsNon-PBS School:• Sent home

early/suspensions• Stormed out of

classroom

• Slept 2 hours/day

• Fought over/ refused to do homework

PBS School:• Problems solved in

school• Removed himself

briefly, was flexible

• Fully engaged

• Reminded Dad about homework

But What About His Grades?But What About His Grades?

Non-PBS School:• Reading at below

grade level (less than 5th)

• 3 F’s and a C

• Couldn’t remember times table – far behind

PBS School:• Reading above

grade level (7.8)

• Made A Honor Roll

• Only ½ year behind in math

What’s the Difference?What’s the Difference?

It’s Not about Us:• We’re the Same Parents

– Communicating with school in the same way

– Parenting the same way– School was difficult before– If it were about us, we would have seen

results at the old school

Non-BelieversNon-Believers

•Some people do not want to believe:–“You don’t have the same kinds of kids we do”

(right, the ones at Scott’s school had more barriers)

–“You are different from other parents we have at our school”

What’s the Difference?What’s the Difference?• He had great teachers at his old school• He has the same IEP• Nothing else in child’s environment

changed (no deaths, didn’t move, still married…)

• We even STOPPED getting mental health support after changing schools

… The only difference is PBS

What Worked?What Worked?• He ran his meeting/owned the plan• The team treated him like an equal

partner• They negotiated a system for behavior

support• Principal connected him with a social

network from the start• School included the family• School called to brag about him

What Else Worked?What Else Worked?• He could leave class when he needed to

and talk about what was going on• He was praised for handling his anger

well• He had a mentor• He knew the adults were trying to

understand and help, not “get him in trouble”

• Other kids’ behavior was better (universal)

What about Next Year?What about Next Year?Positive effects carried into 7th & 8th

grade – Few Supports– Excellent grades– Loved school– Lots of friends– Happy, regular kid– New principal didn’t recognize old kid– “Bottom of the Triangle”

SummarySummary• PBS can show great outcomes – at

school, at home & in the community• Outcomes can last multiple years

• I retired in July b/c my mission is being achieved … thanks to YOU!