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Marion County Schools began partnering with the Tennessee TSC in the spring semester of 2023. One of Marion County Schools’ goals has been to strengthen positive behavior supports for all students. After attending the Implementing Tier I of RTI2-A+RTI2-B professional learning sessions, Marion County Schools planned and implemented student acknowledgement systems to motivate students to make positive behavior choices.
Each school created a unique acknowledgement system tailored to the needs of its building. All systems were based on the foundational principles taught during our Tier I professional learning sessions, explicitly teaching and reteaching schoolwide behavioral expectations and acknowledging students when they are meeting these expectations.
School teams began by creating schoolwide behavioral expectations and defining what each expectation looks like in all locations of their buildings. Next, school teams formulated a plan for how students would be taught, retaught, and reminded of the expectations, which involved scheduling lessons on the expectations during the first two weeks of school, after each break, and when new students enroll. Students are continuously reminded of the expectations. After that, schools began planning how students would be rewarded for meeting the expectations.
Schools developed unique acknowledgement systems that matched the needs and style of their building. For example, South Pittsburg High School focused on increasing praise and public acknowledgement. At the elementary level, Jasper Elementary School created a token economy where students earned Warrior Bucks that are redeemed after each nine weeks at a schoolwide store. South Pittsburg Elementary School created a system based on their mascot, the Pirates. This system involves following CREW principles (Cooperation, Responsibility, Effort, and Wise choices), earning a Jolly Roger flag for the classroom, and earning a jewel each time the class spells "PIRATE CREW" by engaging in the expectations. The jewels earned by each class are collected in a treasure chest, which, when filled, result in a schoolwide reward.
When asked about the effect of their acknowledgement systems, schools indicated a positive impact on their school climate. Jasper Elementary School stated that it took getting the whole faculty and staff on board to make the Warrior Bucks program a success.
The benefits of their Warrior Bucks program have included:
- aligning faculty and staff about expected behaviors;
- promoting their school as a healthy and happy place to learn;
- creating student excitement by seeing positive behavior rewarded in all areas of their school building; and
- students using their Warrior Bucks at their school store at the end of each quarter.
South Pittsburg Elementary School stated that their pirate-themed program has built teamwork among their classes as students encourage each other to follow the CREW principles.
Marion County Schools is committed to implementing an aligned approach to support students’ academic and behavioral needs, and the schools’ acknowledgement systems can be shared as a model for other schools in Tennessee. We look forward to seeing how they continue to build on their momentum to strengthen both school climate and academics in the 2025-2026 school year.
