Staff Trainings that Support Student Behavior

  • Spokane Public Schools is working to support the Whole Child through a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) model that meets the needs of all students. This involves using PBIS to integrate the school-wide discipline plan, restorative practices, trauma sensitivity, and cultural responsiveness.

    SPS offers a range of professional development offerings to help address and support student behavior and provide a safe and productive learning environment for all students. Over the last three years this has involved over 120,000 hours (staff x hours) of training. Schools use principal-directed professional development time to focus on topics related to addressing and supporting student behavior, and staff members also attend district-wide offerings.

    Staff who are interested in learning about additional professional development opportunities offered during Professional Learning Improvement Days or Professional Enrichment Responsibility Time (PERT)-eligible offerings during Summer Institute or after school can contact the individuals below or review the SPS Professional Development Catalog.

    What is the purpose of PBIS?

    Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) is a school-wide approach to teaching students expectations, providing positive feedback for students, and ensuring there is a consistent structure in place to identify inappropriate behavior and respond by using discipline, restorative practices, trauma sensitivity, and cultural responsiveness.

    What is the purpose of restorative practices?

    SPS embraces a restorative approach to conflict, meaning that we see conflicts and harmful behavior as an opportunity for students and staff to:

    • Learn about themselves and each other
    • Take accountability
    • Develop empathy
    • Repair harm and restore relationships, and
    • Identify supports that meet the individual for each of our students.

    Restorative practices are not intended to replace school consequences, but are available to use as a complement to discipline or as an alternative.

    What is Life Space Crisis Intervention?

    Life Space Crisis Intervention certification provides in-depth training on proactively supporting student behavior with a focus on topics related to behavioral health. 

    • 56 hours of training
    • Systematically integrates evidence-based practices related to crisis prevention and intervention, behavior management, cognitive behavior modification, and pro-social skills training into tiered instruction
    • Focus on prevention, conflict cycle, building effective systems and structures based on principals of PBIS

    What is Crisis Prevention Intervention?

    Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) provides crisis response training for staff that focuses on verbal de-escalation.

    • 14 hours of training
    • Trauma informed de-escalation, safety, and restraint strategies
    • Greater emphasis on verbal de-escalation through a deep understanding of brain science and trauma
    • Includes protocols for incident reports, and data collection
    • Replaces former de-escalation and restraint training (Right Response)
large group of students