Margaret K. Lewis School has something big to celebrate: MKL has officially been recognized as a PBIS Model School.

The recognition honors the school’s implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), but at MKL, PBIS is about much more than expectations posted on a wall or recognizing positive behavior. It is woven into the way staff members support students every day.

It can look like greeting a student who arrives having a difficult morning with patience and understanding. It can mean giving a student another opportunity, reteaching a skill or adjusting a support. And sometimes, it means celebrating progress that may seem small to someone on the outside but represents an enormous accomplishment for that student.

That approach is especially meaningful at MKL, where students have a wide range of abilities, communication styles and behavioral needs.

Success does not look the same for every Eagle, and the MKL team understands that.

Teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, behavior staff, nurses, office staff, custodians, cafeteria staff, transportation staff, and others work together to meet students where they are and help each one move forward. Through consistency, collaboration, data-informed supports and a shared belief in what students can accomplish, the school has created a culture centered on growth and individual success.

Becoming a PBIS Model School isn't the result of one committee, one initiative or one year of work. It reflects the collective commitment of an entire school community and the countless everyday interactions that help students feel supported, understood and capable of succeeding.

Some days, progress comes in big milestones. Other days, it comes in inches.

At MKL, every inch matters.

Congratulations to the students and staff of Margaret K. Lewis School on this well-deserved recognition and for continuing to demonstrate what is possible when an entire school works together to help every student succeed.