United Fidelity Bank Funds Langston Hughes Elementary School with PBIS Program
United Fidelity Bank Funds Langston Hughes Elementary School with PBIS Program
By Safiyyah P. Muhammad
United Fidelity Bank has partnered with Langston Hughes Elementary School in the Roseland Community here in Chicago, to assist the school with funding for the implementation of the PBIS Rewards Program (Positive Behavior, Intervention and Support). The program was launched here on August 19th.
“The PBIS (Tier 1 Program) is based on a framework for teaching positive behavior in children. The program has been around for more than 15 years,” said Pat Heck, chief technology officer for PBIS in Evansville, Indiana.
"Rather than focus on negative behavior that creates disruption in the classroom, the PBIS system leans toward positive behavior. When a child displays negative behavior (in the classroom), it is indicative that the child is seeking attention,” he said.
The PBIS program has become a fast-growing program that is being used in schools nationwide, according to a United Fidelity Bank press release. The purpose of the program is to see significant improvement in a school’s climate so that the school becomes a great place for students to grow academically the press release said.
In the PBIS program, a student’s behavior is tracked and recorded by the PBIS software.
When rules are followed such as paying attention, being quiet in the classroom or walking on the right side of the hall, students receive token points, the PBIS website said. The rewards come in the form of electronic tokens. For good behavior, students can use their points to go to a sporting event, have extra library privileges, spend extra time in recess or receive a $5 fast food gift card, among a list of other token privileges.
As students gain token points, they are encouraged to go on line to view their account balance, according to information at www. pbisrewards.com.
Angela Peters, marketing director for United Fidelity Bank said, “We are very excited to take part in the PBIS program at Langston Hughes Elementary.
It allows us to give back to the Chicago community, and not only are we able to provide funding to implement the program (to the school), but it gives employees opportunities to go in and volunteer inside the school," she said.
“The PBIS serves as an accountability tool where you have a good view of which teachers are applying the PBIS program and whether they are rewarding the students. The principal can identify the teachers who need encouragement in using the PBIS program. This program has turned schools around.” Heck said.
Peters said that the PBIS can also be viewed as a two-fold program that rewards students for good behavior and at the same time, teaches them about the value of managing their money responsibly and knowing the value of saving money.
According to Peters, United Fidelity bank operates in Chicago, Denver, Colorado, Cincinnati, Evansville, Indiana, and Carmel, Indiana. United also has acquisition pending in Ft. Myers, Florida and Christiansted, US Virgin Island. To date, the PBIS program at Langston Hughes elementary is the only school in the Chicago area that Fidelity has funded.
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