Building Behavior: The Educator's Guide to Evidence-Based Initiatives, Aug/2019

Build the behavior system your students need and deserve

Students deserve a safe, welcoming, and tolerant learning environment in which high expectations for academic and social/emotional learning will flourish. To achieve this, schools must implement consistent behavior initiatives that are rooted in equity and clear in outcome and purpose. Which plan is best for your students’ needs?

In Building Behavior, authors Jessica Djabrayan Hannigan and John Hannigan identify the strengths of six major research-based behavior initiatives and offer practical guidance for implementing one or more that meet the unique needs of your students and school. They explore and connect the relationship of effect sizes and influence of six common behavior initiatives—Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, Character Education, Restorative Justice, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Trauma Informed Practices, and Social and Emotional Learning—to help educators understand the purpose of each and give school leaders a starting point for adding to, refining, or building a tailored behavior system that is effective and manageable. Building Behavior includes: 

1. Common definitions, frameworks, best practice resources, and tips for implementing and synthesizing each of the behavior initiatives
2. Reflective prompts that connect the existing body of knowledge with real life experiences and practices
3. Reproducible resources, including sample schoolwide and district-wide assessments
4. Tips to avoid common implementation challenges and missteps 

Don’t just reach for the “next best thing.” Learn to select, self-assess, and build a plan for effective implementation of a behavior system that meets the diverse academic and social/emotional learning needs of your students. 
 

"This book offers comprehensive, unbiased information on effective behavior initiatives and provides effective tools for implementing the action plan that best fits a school. It provides a one-stop shop that educators can use to evaluate their current behavior plan, research the most current behavior initiatives, and tailor-fit an initiative for their school."
- Mandy White, Science Teacher, Vicenza Middle School, U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity

About the Authors:

Dr. Jessica Djabrayan Hannigan is an Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership Department at California State University, Fresno. She works with schools and districts throughout the nation on designing and implementing effective behavior systems. Her expertise include Response to Intervention (RTI) Behavior, Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and more. The combination of her special education and student support services background, school and district level administration, and higher education research experiences has allowed her to develop inclusive research based best practices around systemic implementation of behavior initiatives throughout the nation. Some of her recognitions include being named California Outstanding School Psychologist of the Year, Administrator of the Year, Outstanding Faculty Publications and Service Award recipient, being recognized by the California Legislature Assembly for her work in social justice and equity, and receiving the inaugural Association of California School Administrators Exemplary Woman in Education Award in 2017 for her relentless work around equity in schools. 

John Hannigan, Ed. D., is an executive leadership coach for Fresno County Superintendent of Schools in California.  He has served in education for over 15 years as a principal, assistant principal, instructional coach, and teacher. Under his leadership, his school has received numerous awards and recognitions, including California State Distinguished School, Gold Ribbon School, Title I Academic School, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (Platinum Level), and recognized as an exemplary RTI school for both academics and behavior.  His school was selected as a knowledge development site for the statewide scaling up of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).