School Safety: How is MUSD prioritizing mental health and behavioral development?

Staff and administration are prioritizing mental-health resources for their youth.
On March 30, MUSD partnered with Brianna Reinhold’s Northern Lights on a suicide-prevention presentation for MUSD students.

Jelani Elliot, founder of Safe House, which was created to give Maricopa youths a place to safely express themselves in an open and free environment without judgment, gave a testimonial about his son, who recently lost his battle to mental health. Elliot offered tips for parents and students about how to talk about suicide, and how to look for symptoms.

Reinhold also offered tips for parents and students on how to talk about suicide, mental health and what symptoms to look for.

Coutre said it was an emotional event with great information but lamented that many lost an opportunity by not attending.

“I hope that in the future we are going to continue having these partnerships and having these discussions and that more people will be able to attend,” she said.

In the middle schools, MUSD uses Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports to teach students appropriate behaviors. PBIS gives positive reinforcement for good behavior and supports students who may need more individualized attention. The program has been implemented in more than 23,000 school across the country and has been shown to reduce problem behavior and improve academic achievement.

Maricopa Wells Middle School Principal Thad Miller said his students love it. He rewards students’ good behavior or attendance with ‘Panther paws,’ and reads the names on the morning announcements.

Since the program’s start, Miller has seen a decrease in discipline issues. When students are recognized and acknowledged, it makes a world of difference, he said.

“It’s a rollercoaster,” Miller said. “This quarter in particular, we have had a huge drop in negative behaviors.”

Miller added that it has great potential in the future.

“It’s a program that shows some benefits,” Miller said. “Me, as principal, I want to push the program forward.”

MUSD Governing Board Member AnnaMarie Knorr is an advocate for PBIS and applauds Miller and other administrators for their work with students beyond academics.

“Investing in our kids is so important,” Knorr said. “This is life-changing for these kids. Middle school is so crucial. And getting them up to speed, and that somebody cares that they’re learning, cares that they’re capable of doing the work expected of them, is changing their lives, truly.”

At Maricopa Elementary School, Leader-In-Me is a life-skills program to help students develop in goal setting, time management, teamwork, communication and leadership.

It fosters personal responsibility and accountability. MUSD board members agree its impact on students and school communities is positive.

Related stories: 

• Bringing kindness back to the classroom – InMaricopa
• School Safety: What is the district’s plan? – InMaricopa
• School Safety: What about problems outside of school? – InMaricopa
• School Safety: How much has COVID-19 impacted students’ mental health, behavior? – InMaricopa
• School Safety: Can academic intervention improve behavior? – InMaricopa
• School Safety: How is MUSD emphasizing campus safety?
• School Safety: As a parent or teacher, how can you help? – InMaricopa