Understanding Student Behavior as Communication: Meet Jason W. Byars.

When is student behavior "bad?" Jason Byars, a professional educator, explains why student behavior is really communication. Isn't that true of all of us? The last two years have been hard on students and teachers alike.

Jason has been a teacher, a coach, and adminsitrator, and a leader at the state level. In this episode he provides an inside perspective of schools with respect to behavior of students, school climate, social-emotional learing, PBIS and more.

We also talked about how to implement a student-centered approach, the barriers he sometimes encounters, and how he works in community.

What is PBIS?
Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support is a multi-tier approach to supporting students so that they can be successful academically, behaviorally, and having good mental health.

Tier 1 What all students receive
Tier 2  Extra time with teacher, connecting with a trusted adult
Tier 3  Intensive 1 on 1 support, Intensive behavior support

We also discussed:

• the importance of looking at behavioral or emotional issues with students as skill deficits as opposed to unsolvable issues or issues that cannot be fixed at school.
• School climate is how we want our students feel and the culture that surrounds them when they come to school. 
• Curriculum is not just what is taught, but the immersive experience of the school overall.

Links discussed in this episode:
My interview with Micheal Waller
Georgia Appleseed's School Toolkit and discipline data base 

Jason's Bio
Jason W. Byars, Ed.S. is the School Climate Director at Northeast Georgia RESA where he leads schools to improve safety and climate.  After graduating from Berry College in Rome, Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science Education, Jason began his career as a secondary school history teacher in the Fayette County (GA) School System.  He then spent 17 years as a building level administrator in Fayette County, serving as an assistant principal, testing coordinator, athletic director, and principal.  Jason served as the PBIS District Coordinator and Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) Director in the Griffin-Spalding County (GA) School System from 2015-2018 where he worked with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to integrate mental health supports into schools.  From 2019-2022 Jason served as the Program Manager for PBIS and School Climate at the Georgia Department of Education

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Community Possibilities is Produced by Zach Price
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