Q&A with Flint Simonsen, PBIS Expert

Flint L. Simonsen, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Education at Whitworth University, Spokane, conducted segments of that training, and returned today, November 17, 2015, to continue training. Here’s what Flint has to say about PBIS.

Q. What do you want people to know about  PBIS? 

Simonsen: One of the major themes within PBIS is this notion—think about prevention. Instead of waiting for kids to struggle or fall behind, what are some things that we can do early on? The more we can frontload that, the better the outcomes are for everybody.

Q: What do you hope teachers take away from these intense but brief days of training?

Simonsen: Here’s a toolbox, here’s a menu of things you can do. Some really practical tools that they can use the first day, the first week, of school. 

Q: How do families and the community fit into PBIS?

Simonsen: I think it’s really important that parents and families know what’s going on in their schools—that there’s communication between home and community and family and school—that we try to develop as a partnership. Things that are happening at school can be supported and home, and things that are happening at home can be supported in the school environment as well. We know the outcomes are better for kids when there’s a coordinated effort in which we’re all working together. 

Q: What can parents and families do? 

Simonsen: Ask questions. Try to be aware about what’s going on in your child’s school. Look for ways that you can model or act in ways that are similar to some of the ways things are happening at school. That can be a powerful tool. Parents and families are essentially sending the same messages to kids that they’re getting at school. 

Flint Simonsen teaching teachers and staff.